Constantino tops Masters
Harmie Constantino crowned herself the first ICTSI Villamor Philippine Ladies Masters champion in almost the same fashion that marked her previous victory at Luisita, overhauling a big deficit and winning by two over Chihiro Ikeda at the Villamor Golf Club Friday, May 26.
And Constantino needed just a run of pars in the last five holes and a closing 74 to nail the hotly-disputed championship on a 221 total worth ₱120,000 as two-day leader Daniella Uy floundered at the finish again, making three straight double bogeys from No. 15 and limping with an 83, squandering a two-stroke lead in the stretch and winding up joint third instead.
Ikeda put in the day’s best 73 in an earlier flight to snatch runner-up honors at 223 and the ₱85,000 prize with erstwhile contender
Korean Seoyun Kim likewise faltering at the finish with three straight bogeys for a 78 for a share of third with Uy at 226. They each received ₱66,000.
“I just stuck to and tried to execute my game plan – hit the fairways and make the putts,” said Constantino, who battled back from four strokes down and tied Uy after 10 holes to set the stage for another pressure-packed finish the way the former snatched the Luisita leg crown two weeks ago after rallying from as many as six strokes down in the final round.
Meanwhile, Guido van der Valk turned what he deemed was a flawed chip shot into a resounding birdie feat at the finish, saving a 75 and catching Joenard Rates at the helm after three rounds of mental play in the men's action.