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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Golf devider Stars align for showdown at ICTSI Negros Classic

Stars align for showdown at ICTSI Negros Classic

Published Sep 6, 2025 12:59 pm  |  Updated Sep 6, 2025 01:02 pm

At A Glance

  • NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Riding a surge of confidence following a stirring come-from-behind victory in Bacolod last Thursday, Pauline del Rosario returns to the fairways with momentum on her side. But as she braces for another title run in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge unfolding Tuesday, Sept. 9, the path to back-to-back glory promises to be anything but smooth.
Pauline Del Rosario leads the strong cast in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge.
Pauline Del Rosario leads the strong cast in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Riding a surge of confidence following a stirring come-from-behind victory in Bacolod last Thursday, Pauline del Rosario returns to the fairways with momentum on her side. But as she braces for another title run in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge unfolding Tuesday, Sept. 9, the path to back-to-back glory promises to be anything but smooth.
Del Rosario, who rallied with a spectacular final round 66 to stun Seo Yun Kim by one, now faces a deeper, more formidable field. Among the headliners are Princess Superal and Chanelle Avaricio, both confirmed for the P1 million championship and eager to assert their class in the sixth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Superal, fresh off a playoff triumph over Sarah Ababa at Caliraya Springs last month, returns re-energized after skipping the Bacolod leg to complete a shoulder treatment. The inaugural Asia Pacific Cup champion now declares herself fully fit and ready to chase another crown.
Avaricio, on the other hand, enters the 54-hole tournament rested and driven. She dominated at Forest Hills in June, winning by six, and now returns to a course that holds special memories – having staged one of the most remarkable comebacks on tour when she erased an eight-shot deficit to nip Ababa by one in 2023.
But it’s not just a three-way duel in the making.
Kim, the 21-year-old Korean who led wire-to-wire for the first two rounds in Bacolod, will be out for redemption after a final-round stumble cost her a near-certain victory. With near-flawless play in the opening 36 holes, Kim proved she can dominate this level – and she’ll be eager to convert lessons learned into a breakthrough win.
Harmie Constantino, the defending champion at Marapara, adds another layer of intrigue. Though her campaign this season has been riddled with inconsistency following a four-title haul last year, she remains dangerous on this course, where she claimed a weather-shortened victory last year. A return to familiar turf might just be what she needs to rediscover her top form.
The cast of challengers doesn’t stop there. Tour stalwart Sarah Ababa continues to be a model of consistency and has been in the mix at nearly every stop this season. Daniella Uy, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Mafy Singson, Tiffany Lee, Lois Kaye Go, Martina Miñoza, Pamela Mariano, Velinda Castil, Annika Cedo and Kayla Nocum complete a stellar cast, any one of whom could string together three strong rounds and emerge as champion.
With a course like Marapara known for its quirks, variable conditions and subtle challenges, no lead is ever safe. The roster reads like a who’s who of Philippine women’s golf – past champions, rising stars, seasoned tour veterans – all of whom have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Each has a story to write, and the setting seems ripe for another unforgettable finish.
Whether it’s another dramatic rally, a playoff showdown, or a wire-to-wire breakout, one thing is certain: this edition of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge will be anything but predictable. The championship is wide open, and the only guarantee is a three-day battle of strategy, wits and nerves.
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