DANIELLA Uy, deemed the least-credentialed among the four Filipinas, defied expectations as she emerged the standout performer after 18 holes of the Asia Pacific Cup, matching par 72 to trail Thai ace Atthaya Thitikul and three others, including Korean amateur Hyosong Lee, by four in Indonesia yesterday.
Uy mixed two birdies with the same number of bogeys at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta that provided a stern test for a diverse field slugging it out for top honors and princely prizes both in individual competition and team play spread over three days.
The reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion set her bid in motion with a birdie on No. 2 but a slip on the par-3 No. 8 and a subsequent bogey on the 10th tested her mettle. Undeterred, Uy rebounded with a birdie on No. 11, setting the stage for a gutsy run of pars that led to a pair of 36s for a share of 14th with Japanese Nasa Hataoka, Diksha Dagar of India and Korean amateur Minson Kim.
Bianca Pagdanganan posted a one-over 73 while defending champion and fellow ICTSI-backed campaigners Princess Superal and LPGA and Epson Tour veteran Dottie Ardina wavered with 74s in a wobbly start for the three seasoned campaigners tipped to contend and keep the individual crown for the country.
