Tagaytay—Daniella Uy moved in the threshold of a breakthrough win on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, banking on a superb short game to shoot an eagle-aided 68 and rally from two-down to three-up over erstwhile leader Chihiro Ikeda after two rounds of the ICTSI Tagaytay Midlands Ladies Challenge here yesterday.
Uy bounced back strong from a three-putt miscue on the par-5 No. 2, banging in a two-footer for eagle off a brilliant second shot from 200 yards on the next par-5 on No. 6 then gunning down birdies on Nos. 7 and 15 inside 10 feet. She spiked her 33-35 card with a 45-foot birdie putt on the ninth to edge closer to a dream title with a 140.
“Except on No. 2, I was on target around the green. I would get to great positions for birdie chances,” said Uy, whose team-up with brother Lanz netted them a joint fourth place finish in the Delimondo National Pro-Am at Splendido over the weekend.
In all, Uy hit 15 greens and used her putter 29 times to underscore her splendid all around game. She, however, remained wary of her chances on a course that features reachable par-5s, stressing the need to take it one shot at a time.
“Anything can happen in the final round tomorrow (today). This lead could be wiped out in just a couple of holes if I would be careless, so I need to stay focused to win,” said the former Junior World titlist.
Near flawless with a 70 in hot conditions in the first round Wednesday, Ikeda had a flawed start this time on shaky putting, bogeying three of the first 12 holes to fall behind by as many as five. But the Fil-Japanese shotmaker battled back with two birdies in the last six to save a 73 and keep Uy within sight at 143 heading to the last 18 holes of the P750,000 championship put up by ICTSI.
“My putting was awful and the greens were a bit slower than usual,” said Ikeda, who could’ve pulled within two had her chip-in bid for eagle on the last hole had dropped in.
With the rest of the pack failing to strike in another punishing day at the rolling layout, the fight for the top P150,000 could go down to the top two players with Uy bracing for a shootout with a veteran, multi-titled rival in Ikeda.
Thai Tiranan Yoopan, seeking to end a long search for a victory in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., shot three birdies but fumbled with five bogeys for a 74, slipping to third at 145, five strokes off Uy, while Pauline del Rosario failed to make her move and stood six shots adrift with a 72 for a 146.
Eagle Ace Superal, who matched Yoopan’s 71 start Wednesday, came away with five birdies and an eagle on No. 18 but made five bogeys and three double bogeys to finish with a 76 and drop to solo fifth at 147. The Country Club spearhead, however, remained on track for the low amateur honors with Nicole Abelar at 151 after a 72.
Former leg winner Onkanok Soisuwan of Thailand also floundered in debilitating condition, limping with a 76 marred by a double-bogey on the par-5 18th for a 148 while Gretchen Villacencio recovered with two birdies at the back to salvage a 72 and tie Bahrain’s Valerie Tan, who stumbled with a 74, at seventh at 149.
Thanutra Boonraksasat, winner at Southwoods last March, blew a 35 start with a 38, ending up with a 73 and dropping to joint ninth with Abelar, 11 strokes off Uy, in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.