CAVINTI, Laguna – Banishing the ghosts of a year-long slump, Harmie Constantino re-established herself as a dominant force in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, turning the final round of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship into a masterclass in composure as she withstood erratic weather to secure a commanding six-stroke, wire-to-wire victory over Mafy Singson with a closing 68 here on Thursday.
The emphatic win marked a resounding return to form for the 2024 Order of Merit champion. After a frustrating stretch last season that saw her slip out of the title conversation, Constantino reminded the field of her pedigree on the same layout where she notched her second career victory during a four-title run two years ago.
Under an unpredictable sky that alternated between scorching sun and sudden downpours early on, Constantino refused to flinch. Armed with a comfortable four-stroke overnight lead, she turned what was expected to be a tense final-round battle into a controlled closing run.
While Singson failed to mount a serious charge and the rest of the field faded in the sweltering midday conditions, Constantino played virtually stress-free golf.
Rather than forcing the issue on the Arnold Palmer-designed course, she picked her spots with precision. She strengthened her grip on the trophy early, birdying No. 2 with a sharp approach that settled within two feet of the hole, then matched Singson’s birdie on No. 8 to maintain firm control.
She pulled away on the back nine, stringing together back-to-back birdies from No. 10 to build an eight-shot cushion following a Singson bogey on the 11th. A bogey on No. 13 barely dented her momentum, and she birdied the 17th for the third straight day to seal the six-stroke victory. She finished with a 10-under 206 total worth ₱130,000.
She navigated the final round largely unbothered by the leaderboard, a reflection of her renewed mental discipline. By shutting out the noise and focusing solely on her own game, she turned what could have been a high-pressure finale into a composed finish.
“It’s nice that I got to enjoy the last round without any pressure. I was only focusing on myself and didn’t even notice how the other players were doing. My entire focus was simply on how I wanted to play and how I wanted to finish my round,” said Constantino.
Singson missed several chances to close the gap but still finished strong with back-to-back birdies for a 70 and a 212, earning P85,000. Tiffany Lee carded a 71 to place third at 215 and take home P72,000.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Sarah Ababa mounted a late charge with a 68 to claim fourth at 216, while Yvon Bisera shot a 73 to tie for fifth at 217 with Seoyun Kim, who stumbled with a 74.
Junior standout Mona Sarines clinched low amateur honors with a 225 after a third straight 75.
Constantino credited her resurgence to a disciplined mix of hard work, patience, and a complete overhaul of her mental approach.
“I think my mindset has changed a lot, and it’s something I’ve been working on heavily. Mentally, things are going so much better compared to where I was in 2024, and that is truly the biggest bonus I could ever ask for,” she said.
Now back at the top, she is eyeing a strong season ahead with renewed purpose and enjoyment.
“I hope this year will be a lot better. I’ve changed a lot in how I play and how I think. Mentally, it’s a completely different game for me now, and I feel a level of happiness on the course that just wasn’t there last year,” she said.
Reflecting on her momentum, she stressed that the victory serves as validation of her steady work.
“This win means a lot – it proves that my game is progressing through practice and hard work. Mentally, it just feels incredibly good to feel good about how I play golf again,” said Constantino.
Her triumph stood in stark contrast to her win on the same layout during her four-title haul in 2024, which required a gritty come-from-behind effort. This time, she was in control from the outset. She seized command of the tournament on Day 1 with an eagle-spiked 66 in near-perfect conditions, then showed resilience on Wednesday with a grinding 72 in punishing, wind-swept heat.
