LJ Go in the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
LJ Go took a giant leap forward, and younger sister Lois Kaye had a big misstep on Thursday as the siblings seeking breakthrough professional victories went different ways in the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship in Davao.
Shooting an eagle-aided seven-under-par 65, LJ opened up a whopping eight-shot lead over Angelo Que and two others heading into the final round of the P2 million men’s championship, while Lois Kaye blew a two-shot overnight lead and will have to wait for that maiden triumph as Harmie Constantino ran away with the ladies title.
“The course was scorable if you just find the fairways,” LJ said after also shooting down seven birdies that went with two bogeys for a 202 as his third round effort matched his total in the first two. “That’s the most important thing for me here.”
READ: ICTSI Palos: Go siblings continue to hold sway, with Lois Kaye nearing victory
Nilo Salahog shot a week-best 64 to join Que (71) and Sean Ramos (70) in trailing LJ as the final 18 holes, for all intents and purposes, will be all about Go’s victory march and the battle for the crumbs.
Lois Kaye, meanwhile, ballooned to a closing 78, easily yielding top spot to Constantino, who fired a 69 for a 217 and win by three shots over Sarah Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda.
Ababa, who won at Apo Golf last week, submitted a 72 to catch the seasoned Ikeda, who returned her worst round of the tournament, a 75 as she double-bogeyed the par-3 11th for the second time.
READ: Go siblings grab attention at Palos Verdes
Constantino wasted no time in turning the tide in her favor, as a front side 33 did the trick with Kois Kaye signing for a 38.
“I’d say one of the sweetest, but not the top,” Constantino said when asked to rate her come-from-behind win. “I stayed patient, kept my cool out there.”
Ira Alido, who was within a shot of the joint leaders after the first round, fired a 72 to be nine off LJ and will have to content himself in slugging it out for second place in the final round.