BACOLOD – Seo Yun Kim took a giant step toward a long-awaited breakthrough on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, pulling away from the pack with a commanding six-stroke lead after 36 holes in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday.
Displaying poise and precision far beyond her 21 years, the Korean shot a 68 to go with her sparkling, bogey-free 66 in the opening round, taking her to a tournament-leading six-under-par 134 total.
Kim, who has endured six runner-up finishes in a three-year LPGT campaign, is now within striking distance of not just a maiden win, but a wire-to-wire victory that would serve as a definitive statement of her arrival.
Though she slipped with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 13, she bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 15th, closing with a 32-36 card.
Despite Kim’s formidable advantage, the country’s top pros aren’t backing down.
Pauline del Rosario, Florence Bisera, Sarah Ababa and defending champion Daniella Uy all finished at even-par 140 to stay within striking range. Del Rosario, in particular, looked sharp with a three-under 67, finally finding her rhythm after an erratic first round.
Bisera shot a 68, Ababa matched par 70 for the second straight day and Uy turned in a 71.
Lois Kaye Go also made a strong case, birdieing three of her first six holes before settling for a 68 and solo sixth at 141. Mafy Singson, a former LPGT winner at Eagle Ridge, posted a steady 70 to sit at 143, while Kristine Fleetwood, after an impressive 69 start, stumbled with a 75 and joined Tiffany Lee and Pamela Mariano (both 73) at 144.
Harmie Constantino improved with a 71 after an opening 74 but remained outside the major chase at 145.
The locals are expected to mount a full-on assault in the final round. But with Kim holding a six-stroke cushion, they not only need to play their best golf – they must also disrupt Kim’s momentum early, something no one has been able to do so far.
For Kim, the path is clear: play smart, stay calm and let her game do the talking.
