Ace-spiked 70 gives Harmie one-shot lead

Harmie Constantino—LPGT/FILE

Using an ace on No. 8 to cushion a wobbly finish, Harmie Constantino on Wednesday salvaged a two-under-par 70 to take a one-shot lead over two dangerous foes after the opening round of the P750,000 ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Challenge in Lipa.

The reigning Order of Merit winner also had two birdies and made the turn at 32 at Mt. Malipunyo, before struggling coming home with two bogeys at Mt. Lobo as the composite layout yielded only three sub-par rounds with the other two carved out by Chihiro Ikeda and Marvi Monsalve.

“It wasn’t that good. I hit a lot of greens but missed a lot of birdie putts. I wasn’t also able to save a few par putts,” rued Constantino. “But overall it was OK.”

It was the eighth ace in the career of Constantino, who holed a pitching wedge from 118 yards.

Ikeda, the former Southeast Asian Games queen, will start the second round just a shot back after hitting a birdie and an eagle 3 at the back nine for a 38-33, while Monsalve had a roller coaster round, mixing five birdies with four bogeys in a 36-35 to stay within striking distance.