TAIWAN – Chanelle Avaricio closed out her campaign at the Party Golfers Ladies Open with a steady 70, underscoring another challenging week for the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour contingent at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu.

Local standout Wenny Chang held off a spirited charge from Thailand’s PK Kongkraphan to rule the annual event co-sanctioned by the LPGT and the Taiwan LPGA Tour with a 66 for a commanding three-stroke victory.

Avaricio mounted an early run from deep down the leaderboard, mixing two birdies with a bogey on the front nine to push herself within striking distance of the Top 10. After adding another birdie on the par-5 11th, she generated several promising looks but failed to convert, settling for a string of pars as the field battled brisk winds and biting temperatures across the rugged par-72 course.

She finished with a 217 total – good for a share of 13th place, the highest finish by any LPGT campaigner this week. Though not enough to crack the upper tier, the result marked a significant improvement from her 50th-place showing last year and highlighted her steady progress in regional competition.

Florence Bisera, who entered the 54-hole tournament with high hopes following a breakthrough win in Thailand, closed with a 73 to settle for joint 27th at 222. Princess Superal and LK Go both finished at 223 for a share of 37th, with Go carding a fiery finish – two birdies in her last four holes at the front –to salvage a 71.

Daniella Uy, the top-performing LPGT player in the event’s history thanks to her joint fourth-place effort in 2019, never found her footing this week. She struggled to a 75 and slipped to 43rd with a 224 total. Mafy Singson also endured a shaky final round, signing for a 76 to end in 52nd at 227.

Avaricio’s highlight reel included a brilliant birdie on the demanding par-3 eighth and a tap-in feat on the second, though a costly three-putt miscue on the sixth deprived her of further momentum. Despite missing out on a Top 10 finish, she remained upbeat, viewing the experience as valuable preparation for future local and international events.

“I learned a lot about being patient, with the kind of challenges we faced,” said Avaricio.

“I’ve played windy courses before, but not in these conditions. The first round was especially tough with the cold and the two three-putts. It was a good reminder to stay composed.”

Meanwhile, Chang kept her poise amid Kongkraphan’s blistering final-round 65. Chang birdied the final hole to fire a six-under card for a 10-under 206 total, surviving a late bogey to secure a two-shot triumph.

Kongkraphan, a multi-titled veteran on the Taiwan circuit, ran out of holes in her valiant bid but delivered one of the cleanest rounds of the week – a bogey-free 30-35 finish – to claim solo second at 209.

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