LAUREL, Batangas. — Foiled in her crack at a pro crown at least four times, amateur Mafy Singson finally nailed the elusive win Thursday, holding off Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio and Harmie Constantino to snare the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship by one on a 71 in hot conditions here.
Not even a bogey-bogey skid from No. 14 could stymie the rising Davaoeña star’s stab at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour glory as erstwhile leader Baraquiel faded with double bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 and blew a two-stroke lead and Avaricio and Constantino fell short of their playoff bids with pars on the last two holes.
“I didn’t really expect to win. I want to catch up with them (pros) and it was really a close fight, especially at the back,” said Singson, who battled back from two down, went two-up after Baraquiel’s misses, and held sway the rest of the way with gutsy pars to prevail with a 215 total.
“I just tried to keep (my lead) and tried to make birdies but they didn’t drop,” added the ICTSI-backed ace, who hones his shotmaking skills under swing coach Bong Lopez at the Manila Southwoods.
