Cavinti, Laguna—Marvi Monsalve, due for a big finish in a career marred by shaky starts and finishes, sizzled with a three-under 69 this time, finding herself a bewildered leader in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club here yesterday.
Monsalve used a near-impeccable iron game to shoot four birdies against a bogey and come out of a windy day in command by two strokes over Chanelle Avaricio, who turned in a two-birdie, one-bogey 71 card two weeks after besting multi-titled Princess Superal in sudden death in the inaugural ICTSI Hallow Ridge Challenge in San Pedro, Laguna.
“I played it simple, hit a lot of greens but missed a lot of putts. But I was able to drop some,” said Monsalve, who tied for eighth at Luisita and limped to 12th place at Hallow Ridge, also a first-time venue host like Caliraya of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
“Actually, I didn’t expect much since I hardly had a practice round heading to this tournament. But I committed to my target and just played my game,” added Monsalve, who set her bid in motion with back-to-back birdies from No. 5 that negated a miscue on the fourth then capped her fine start with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.
“It’s windy but the course is in good condition and in top shape—fairways, greens and even the bunkers, they are all taken care of,” she added.
Avaricio rued a couple of missed chances on the unpredictable surface but expressed hopes of a better showing in the last two rounds of the 54-hole championship for a crack at a back-to-back title romp.
“I had a couple of birdie putts but they didn’t go in. Still having a hard time reading the greens,” said Avaricio. “Hopefully, I can improve on that tomorrow (today) with emphasis on ball placing and putting.”
Chihiro Ikeda, a multi-titled campaigner out to break a long title drought, hit just one birdie against two bogeys but her 73 put her at third, four strokes behind Monsalve, even as Riviera-Langer leg winner Daniella Uy carded a 74 and amateur Arnie Taguines shot a 75 to stay in early contention in the third leg of an 11-stage circuit put up by ICTSI.
Reigning Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino continued to grope for form as she hobbled with a 76, Gretchen Villacencio turned in a 78 and Kristine Fleetwod and Florence Bisera matched 79s for joint eighth with amateur Eagle Ace Superal.
Last year’s Midlands leg champion Sunshine Baraquiel also wavered with an 81 in a tie with former leg winner Sarah Ababa as they stood behind Pamela Mariano, who carded an 80.