4-way tie at top marks wild LPGT Iloilo opener

ILOILO – In a dramatic opening round at the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge, four players — Chanelle Avaricio, Mikha Fortuna, Chihiro Ikeda and Gretchen Villacencio — matched two-over-par 72s to take a share of the lead at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club here on Tuesday.

The day-long battle in hot conditions tested the players’ mental toughness and course management at the challenging 5,778-yard layout, setting up one of the fiercest starts in the history of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Avaricio, who was on track for the solo lead, suffered a costly bogey on the 18th, allowing Fortuna, who birdied her closing hole on the ninth, to force a four-way tie.

“I struggled a bit but managed to bounce back with two chip-in birdies and made a couple of par-saving putts from long range,” said Avaricio, reflecting on her up-and-down round. “I’ll try to hit more fairways in the next rounds.”

The par-70 course proved to be a tough challenge for the field, demanding precision and mental resilience. Mafy Singson and Sarah Ababa were hot on the heels of the leaders, each carding a 73 to stay just one stroke behind.

Meanwhile, Princess Superal, Daniella Uy and Florence Bisera posted 74s, keeping themselves in the mix for an intense showdown in the final two rounds of the P1 million championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Harmie Constantino, a three-time winner this season, also contended for the lead but fell back with a double bogey on her closing hole (No. 9), finishing with a 75 and slipping into a tie for 10th place with Marvi Monsalve and Kayla Nocum.

Jiwon Lee, playing in her first official game at the Iloilo course, had a roller-coaster round. She started with a double-par on the tricky par-4 first hole after driving out of bounds twice, and despite five birdies, she struggled with six bogeys, finishing far off the pace.

The 16-year-old former Junior PGT standout, who has already won both the Lakewood Championship as an amateur and the Splendido Taal leg as a professional, ended the day with a 79, tied for 13th with Apple Fudolin.

Fortuna, despite a shaky start with three bogeys, birdied her final hole (No. 9) to join the leaders.

“The course is short but tricky. I just told