Uy, Fortuna test Castil’s mettle

CLARK Freeport Zone, Philippines — Two-leg winner Daniella Uy and Mikha Fortuna expect to put Velinda Castil through a severe test right in today’s start of the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship at the Mimosa Plus’ Acacia course in Pampanga here.

The three are paired in the 9 a.m. group on No. 1 with Uy, who scored back-to-back victories at Forest Hills and Del Monte, itching to launch another drive for a championship after her three-peat bid fell short at South Pacific Classic last week.

But her runner-up finish in Davao easily makes her the marked player in the 54-hole championship serving as the final leg of this year’s 10-stage Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with the former Junior World champion hinting at banking on her power again in chase of another diadem.

“Most likely, I’ll rely on my drives to get more chances for birdies kasi Mimosa is wider than South Pacific,” said Uy, who used her length to spike her recent twin victories that ended a streak of stretch-run meltdowns.

Fortuna is also out to rebound from a final round struggle at South Pacific that saw her limp with a 76 and drop to third.