CAVINTI, Laguna. — Sarah Ababa salvaged a crucial birdie on the 18th to cap a tumultuous round of 70 and regain a share of the lead alongside a resurgent Chihiro Ikeda and a steady Princess Superal, setting up a thrilling finale in the P1 million ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here Wednesday.
Ababa, who opened with a 70 at Caliraya Springs’ Arnold Palmer-designed layout, endured a rollercoaster second round marked by superb iron play and marred by some costly errors but closed strong with a clutch nine-footer for birdie to card a second straight two-under card and stay at the helm at 140.
Ikeda, meanwhile, turned back the clock with a vintage performance. After stumbling out of the gates with a double bogey on the par-4 second hole, the former Order of Merit winner mounted a spectacular rally, reeling off six birdies in a 10-hole stretch, including a pair on Nos. 10 and 11, to seize the solo lead.
She added another on the 16th to go five-under for the round but faltered late, bogeying the 17th to settle for a 68 and a share of the top spot.
Superal also stayed firmly in the mix with a composed 69, negating a lone mishap on No. 13 with four birdies, including a key conversion on the 15th. Her improved putting made the difference, as she parred the last two holes—where she faltered in the first round—to complete a 34-35 card and keep pace with her longtime friends and rivals.
With all three tied at 140 heading into the final round, the stage is set for a frenetic battle among veterans who have long figured in the local circuit’s biggest moments.
“I’m happy with my iron shots. I hit 17 greens today,” said Ababa, who also led after the first round and is eyeing another Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory following her triumph in Iloilo last year. “I had a few three-putts but that birdie on the 18th gave me a boost. There’s no pressure going into tomorrow, especially since I’ll be playing with friends. I’ll just enjoy the game.”
Ikeda echoed a similar mindset after her stirring comeback. “I just reminded myself there were still a lot of holes to play,” said the former multiple-leg winner, who missed a chance to seal the Lakewood Championship last year. “My irons were sharper today and the putts kept falling.”
Now, she gets another shot at redemption, this time in a three-way battle with two of the tour’s most decorated players.
But while Ababa and Ikeda lit up the scorecards with stretches of brilliance, all eyes could well be on Superal, the former Asia Pacific champion whose consistency may prove decisive on a course known for its risk-reward layout.
“I just need to stick to my process and give my 100 percent tomorrow,” said Superal, now a step away from ending a long title drought.
The final round promises fireworks, with not only pride but the top P125,000 purse at stake. Expect no letup from the chasing pack either, including defending champion HarmieConstantino, who carded a 69 to tie Florence Bisera, who shot a second 71, at 142, just two shots off the lead.
Martina Miñoza briefly threatened at two-under through 12 holes but a costly double bogey on the 17th forced her to settle for a 72 and a 143 aggregate. She remained in striking distance, just three strokes back.
First round leader Kim Seo Yun, meanwhile, struggled under pressure, limping home with a 75 and slipping to seventh at 144. Tiffany Lee rebounded with a 71 for a 145, while Gretchen Villacencio and MafySingson, who both turned in second-round 71s, stayed in the hunt at 146.
