Steady Uy holds off Avaricio for crown

Daniella Uy. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MURCIA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL—In what she described as a “roller-coaster round,” Daniella Uy made sure she did one thing in the final round of the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge on Thursday.

“I stayed focused,” she said.

She remained locked in despite throwing away a two-stroke edge with a double-bogey on the par-4 15th, finding the resolve to retake the lead with a birdie on 16. She remained composed despite what she described as “several missed birdie chances” and after opening the round with a bogey.

And as she rode home on two solid pars, that focus was rewarded.

She finished two strokes ahead of Chanelle Avaricio and took home the top prize of P117,000 after putting together a closing two-under-par 68 for a 202 total.

“There was pressure, but it felt more like excitement since it was such a tight match,” Uy said. “It gave me confidence to hit the pin and sink those birdies.”

Avaricio, who needed a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff, might have felt the pressure as she closed out with a three-putt bogey to finish at 204 and with the runner-up purse worth P82,000.

Uy won for the fifth time in her career after stamping her class on a field that also included Princess Superal, who rallied with a 67 to take third place, six shots off. Velinda Castil (72) and Jiwon Lee (74) tied for fourth at 213.

“This win means a lot to me. It will definitely boost my confidence as I head back to the Taiwan tour,” said Uy, who highlighted a second-round 65 that installed her at the top in a tie with Avaricio with an eagle.

Avaricio, meanwhile, had earlier set the tournament record with a 63, setting up the dramatic final-day showdown between the two standouts.

Sarah Ababa, knocked off course with a triple-bogey on the par-3 10th, finished sixth at 214.