Three-way fight looms at Pradera Verde
Swearing to have learned a lot from two runner-up finishes inside the last month, Chanelle Avaricio will be a woman on a mission starting on Wednesday when the P750,000 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic gets off the ground in Lubao, Pampanga.
Those two second place finishes came after back-to-back titles, and Avaricio will come into the well-manicured layout up north physically and mentally prepared to do battle in the fifth leg of the circuit organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“I’ll use my experience to improve more on my game, to also correct my mistakes,” said Avaricio. “To prepare, during the two-week break, I focused on practicing, specifically my putting and driving.”
Chihiro Ikeda, who ruled the Mt. Malarayat stop, also looms as one of the players to watch together with Sunshine Baraquiel, who shared second with Avaricio at Splendido.
Baraquiel actually had control at Splendido, only to implode in the back nine on the final day as amateur Mafy Singson escaped with a first win. Baraquiel, Avaricio and Harmie Constantino shared second there.
The lady pilot signed for late back-to-back double bogeys which she has put behind as Baraquiel tries to rebound from that on a Pradera layout that she will play in a tournament for the first time.
“I haven’t played Pradera Verde before, so I’ll make sure my ball striking is predictable enough to hit my yardages,” said Baraquiel. “I think if I’m able to do that next week, I’ll have a good chance.” INQ
