With the howling winds that battered Pinewoods Golf Club a day earlier suddenly disappearing, Chanelle Avaricio seized the opportunity to mount a championship charge and complete a thrilling comeback victory in the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge.
Starting the final round five strokes behind, Avaricio wasted no time erasing the deficit, unleashing a blistering front-nine rally that immediately put the field on notice. From there, she relied on experience, patience, and steady nerves to outlast Tiffany Lee and Harmie Constantino in a tense back-nine battle, closing with a two-under-par 70 to capture the title.
The victory marked another impressive bounce-back for the seasoned campaigner, who has rediscovered her winning form after a playoff loss to Sarah Ababa at Del Monte. She responded to that heartbreak with a dominant seven-shot victory at Apo before adding another title—this one earned through a gritty comeback that showcased her resilience and championship composure.
“I never really thought about being five down because this course is so difficult – anything can happen out here,” said Avaricio, who finished with a 54-hole total of one-over-par 217 to claim the top prize of P125,000 in the third leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
As Lee stumbled early in the final round, Avaricio gradually found her rhythm, particularly on the greens, and capitalized on the shift in momentum.
“I played really well on the front nine,” she said. “My putting finally clicked, and I made a couple of 12-foot birdie putts.”
Still, the victory was far from straightforward.
“One bad hole can put you in trouble, and it’s really hard to recover,” she said.
Rather than forcing the issue, Avaricio stayed patient, a mindset shaped by the demanding conditions throughout the week.
“This course really tested my patience,” said Avaricio, who opened with a 71 before slipping to a 76 in the second round.
Constantino and Lee mounted a furious late charge that transformed the closing stretch into a pressure-packed finish. Constantino birdied three of her final five holes to shoot a 72, while Lee recovered from a difficult round with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to salvage a 76. Both finished just one stroke behind at 218.
(C) LPGT
Avaricio, meanwhile, suddenly found herself on the verge of surrendering the lead. After playing steady golf for most of the round, she faltered with three-putt bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16, allowing her cushion to shrink to a single shot as the pressure mounted.
Standing on the 17th tee, the tournament became a test of composure as much as shot-making. Every swing carried added weight, but Avaricio refused to crack. She played the hole conservatively, hitting a safe approach before calmly converting her par to preserve her narrow advantage.
The same approach carried over to the final hole.
With Constantino and Lee still within striking distance, Avaricio again chose discipline over aggression. She avoided unnecessary risks, executed another clutch par under immense pressure, and sealed the championship by a single stroke in a victory defined as much by poise as by skill.
“I started feeling a little nervous over the closing stretch, especially after seeing the leaderboard on No. 16,” said Avaricio. “I was a bit rattled that’s why I three-putted Nos. 15 and 16.”
Despite the late stumble, Avaricio steadied herself when it mattered most, parring the final two holes to secure the title before rain and fog enveloped the entire course.
“This course really tests not just your skills, but every aspect of your game and mindset,” she said.
Avaricio entered the P1 million championship brimming with confidence after narrowly making the cut and rallying to a tie for 15th at last week’s Qingdao Open on the China LPGA Tour.
“I think it definitely helped,” she said. “The course we played in China was also very tough, with firm greens that weren’t very receptive. Playing there prepared me well for the conditions this week.”
She also credited the unwavering support of her family throughout the week at Pinewoods, saying it provided an extra boost during her title run.
Daniella Uy carded a 73 to finish fourth at 224, while Sarah Ababa posted the day’s best round of 69 to place fifth at 225. Princess Superal rebounded with a 73 to finish tied for sixth at 227 alongside Gretchen Villacencio and Mafy Singson, who closed with rounds of 75 and 77, respectively.
