ANTIPOLO – Chanelle Avaricio reclaimed her dominance on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after winning the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic title by a stunning six-stroke margin over Mafy Singson at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club’s Nicklaus course here on Thursday.
The 27-year-old former Alabama State standout rode the momentum of a flawless second-round 65, building a comfortable three-shot cushion that allowed her to play the final 18 holes with poise and composure en route to a steady final-round 71.
Taking advantage of the par-5s on the back nine while steering clear of risky plays, Avaricio cruised to a trouble-free 54-hole total of five-under 208.
“It’s nice to win again. It’s been a long time,” said Avaricio, who last hoisted an LPGT trophy in 2023 when she rallied from eight strokes behind to edge Sarah Ababa by one in Negros Occidental.
Not even a double-bogey on the 14th – where she had to punch out from a tough lie and ended up three-putting – could rattle Avaricio, who remained composed and unthreatened as Singson and the rest of the field failed to capitalize.
In the final round, after Singson birdied the first hole to apply early pressure, Avaricio answered with a birdie on No. 3, hiking her lead to four as Singson bogeyed the second hole.
She never looked back.
While Singson and the chasing pack, which included Tiffany Lee, Sarah Ababa, Kristine Fleetwood and Kayla Nocum, struggled to keep up, Avaricio remained steady, eventually sealing her first win of the season.
Avaricio claimed the P175,000 top purse, while Singson, who closed with a 74 for a 214 settled for second and pocketed P82,000.
Singson, the Eagle Ridge leg winner after edging Florence Bisera in a playoff, started strong but couldn’t maintain her momentum and struggled down the stretch.
Lee carded an even-par 72 to finish solo third at 216 worth P66,000, while Mikha Fortuna turned in a 71 for fourth at 218. Bisera shot a 72 to tie for fifth with Sarah Ababa, who slipped with a 76, both finishing at 220.
Martina Miñoza and Chihiro Ikeda matched 70s to share seventh at 221, while Princess Superal settled for ninth with a 74 for a 222. Nocum faltered with a 76 to end at 223, while Fleetwood stumbled with an 81, falling into a tie for 11th at 225 with Gretchen Villacencio, who shot a 75.
