ICTSI Mimosa Plus Challenge: Fortuna fires solid 65 to surge past Uy

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – Mikha Fortuna barely outdueled Daniella Uy in a frontside shootout but outgunned the two-leg champion in the last nine holes, posting a brilliant seven-under 65 for a four-stroke bulge at the start of the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Challenge at Mimosa Plus’ Acacia Lakeview course here Tuesday.

Fortuna sustained her four-birdie splurge in the first nine holes with three more feats at the back as she kept on producing superb approach shots that set up a number of birdie chances. She also pounced on Uy’s struggle while the latter tried to buck tough pin placements as she opened a commanding lead in the P1 million, 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI.

“I feel like it’s going to be the approach shots and putting,” said Fortuna when asked of the key to taming the 5,796-yard course and fueling a title drive that got derailed the last time out at South Pacific Classic in Davao.

Fortuna battled Uy shot-for-shot and putt-for-putt in the early going, hinting at a day-long shootout between two of the fancied players in the fold. After the former birdied the opening hole, Uy matched her rival’s birdie runs on Nos. 2 5 and 9.

But as Fortuna kept firing away birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 16, Uy failed to equalize, settling for a run of pars and a 69.

“Medyo nag-struggle at ‘di na maka-birdie, ‘di maidikit ang mga approach at ‘di din maka-putt. Mahirap ang mga spots, mahirap bagsakan,” rued Uy, aiming to emerge as the only three-leg winner this year after scoring back-to-back victories at Valley and Forest Hills.

The former Junior World champion also rallied to snare runner-up honors at South Pacific.

“The par-5s are reachable and the par-4s are short, so paramihan na lang ng birdies talaga,” said Uy.

Korean Seoyun Kim eagled