BUKIDNON – Chanelle Avaricio summoned the same brilliance that earned her a dominant Forest Hills triumph, shooting a bogey-free 67 in a composed, clinical start to the ICTSI Del Monte Championship here on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

With her driver and putter both working in harmony, the former Order of Merit champion carved a two-stroke lead over defending champion Daniella Uy after 18 holes, rekindling a budding rivalry that promises a thrilling climax over the next two rounds.

Navigating Del Monte’s tight, tree-lined fairways for the first time, Avaricio showed no signs of discomfort. After opening with a string of seven steady pars, she ignited her round with a birdie blitz starting at No. 8, reeling off three straight. Her control only sharpened from there, closing with two more birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to cap a five-under round devoid of blemishes.

“I didn’t expect to have no bogeys today because it’s my first time here and the course is pretty tight,” said Avaricio, who has been diligently working on her swing mechanics and putting stroke following a rocky return on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

The Del Monte Championship marks her first real crack at redemption since finishing sixth at Negros Occidental – an unfamiliar spot for the usually consistent Avaricio, who skipped the Caliraya Springs and Bacolod legs. But on Tuesday, her renewed focus and refined form returned in full.

“My driving and putting really clicked. Hopefully I can maintain this momentum,” she added. “I’ll just try to keep the ball in play and keep giving myself birdie chances.”

Lurking just behind is Uy, who carded a 69 but rued a costly bogey on the 17th that kept her from pulling within a stroke. After a quiet front nine with just one birdie and one bogey, Uy surged to life on the back nine with four birdies in eight holes, briefly applying pressure on Avaricio before stumbling late.

“I was just trying to survive today and focus on the process,” said Uy, whose gritty performance hinted at the form that won her this title two years ago. “I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and luckily my putting worked today.”

Having also endured a seventh-place finish at Marapara, Uy knows exactly how volatile the leaderboard can get – and how much ground can be gained or lost with a single swing.

“I just want to stay locked in on each shot – hit greens, read putts well, and take what the course gives me,” said Uy.

The Avaricio-Uy duel, forged from their shared status as past champions and Philippine golf standouts, now sets the tone for a riveting battle heading into the second round.

But while the spotlight shines on the top two, young pro Velinda Castil quietly reminded the field – and the home crowd – why she remains one of the country’s most promising talents.

The 17-year-old Bukidnon native, who turned pro at 15 after a joint runner-up finish here two years ago, carded a composed 70, highlighted by three birdies against a single bogey.

“I just played my game, no expectations,” said Castil. “Pero may pressure talaga, kasi andito ako sa hometown ko and maraming nag-e-expect na maganda ang laro ko.”

Despite the nerves, she leaned on her putter to save multiple pars, staying composed under pressure and within striking distance of a breakthrough win.

“Ang dami kong saved pars, pumapasok halos lahat ng putt,” she added, although she admitted to one miscue – a rare three-putt on the par-3 seventh from long range.

A tightly packed group at one-under 71 features seasoned contenders Sarah Ababa, Tiffany Lee and Harmie Constantino, all of whom will be aiming to mount their own charge in the coming rounds. Constantino, in particular, is long overdue for a big finish after an up-and-down stretch on tour following a four-victory romp last year.

Another local hopeful, Martina Miñoza, showed early spark with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 but faded to a 72 in a tie with Kristine Fleetwood and Lesley Icoy at seventh, while Florence Bisera, tipped as a pre-tournament favorite after consecutive victories at Marapara and in Thailand, struggled to a 73 alongside Marvi Monsalve.

Mafy Singson, who edged Bisera in sudden death to capture the Eagle Ridge title, also found the going tough, carding a 74 to drop six strokes off the pace. She will need a big rebound to stay in the title conversation.

With two rounds still to play, the P1 million championship is shaping into a gripping three-way race – Avaricio’s poise, Uy’s power and Castil’s promise now front and center. But with narrow fairways, unpredictable greens and pressure rising with every hole, anything can still happen here in Bukidnon.