Daniella Uy returns to familiar territory this week, hoping to rekindle the magic that brought her a memorable two-shot triumph at the ICTSI Del Monte Championship two years ago.
With both course familiarity and a championship pedigree on her side, the Taiwan tour campaigner is not just looking to score a repeat beginning Tuesday, Oct. 14, she’s determined to redeem herself from a disappointing finish in the last leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Coming off a strong third-place finish in Bacolod, Uy had entered the Negros Occidental stop with momentum and high expectations. But a jittery opening-round 74 stalled her title push early. Though she recovered with a solid 70 in the second round, another 74 in the final round saw her settle for sixth – a result that fell short of her own standards.
Now back at Del Monte Golf Club, where her precision and poise previously earned her the top prize in 2023, Uy is out to rediscover her best form. However, the road to another victory promises to be steep, as a formidable field packed with proven winners and in-form challengers stands in her way.
Leading that charge is Florence Bisera, who has emerged as one of the hottest players on tour. After a come-from-behind victory at Marapara, Bisera took her winning ways abroad, clinching a breakthrough win at the Thai LPGA Masters last month. With her confidence at an all-time high, the Davaoeña ace looms as the biggest threat to Uy’s repeat bid.
Adding to the intensity are Mafy Singson and Chanelle Avaricio – both former LPGT leg champions hungry to bounce back from sub-par showings in Negros. Their experience, firepower and hunger for redemption all but guarantee a tightly contested battle at the mountain-top layout.
The P1 million event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., also sees a strong showing from Mindanao-based talents. Martina Miñoza, Velinda Castil, Pamela Mariano and amateur standout Zero Plete aim to cash in on their local knowledge in pursuit of a breakthrough performance. Their familiarity with the elevation changes and tight fairways of Del Monte could prove to be a key advantage.
The tournament, a 54-hole test of shot-making and mental resilience, also kicks off a three-tournament Mindanao swing. With Order of Merit points up for grabs, frontrunners are eager to strengthen their positions ahead of the season-ending Match Play Championship next month at The Country Club.
Following Del Monte, the tour heads to the Apo Golf Classic in Davao from Oct. 21-24, then to South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates from Oct. 28-31 for the final leg of the swing.
Also in the title hunt are former leg winners Sarah Ababa, Chihiro Ikeda and Harmie Constantino – all of whom are looking to rebound from recent lackluster performances.
Marvi Monsalve, on the other hand, returns to LPGT action and seeks to make her comeback count with a strong showing.
Tiffany Lee, still searching for the form she flashed during a promising pro debut at Splendido Taal last year, will look to end her run of inconsistent results with a breakthrough performance. Meanwhile, a determined group of dark horses, including Kayla Nocum, Angela Mangana, Leslie Icoy, Rev Alcantara, Gretchen Villacencio, Apple Fudolin, Kristine Fleetwood, Korean hopeful Eunhua Nam and veteran Eva Miñoza, round out a deep and competitive field, each seeking to make their mark over the three-day event.
For Uy, the mission is clear: tap into her winning formula at Del Monte, block out the distractions, and rise above one of the strongest fields of the season. With a point to prove and a title to defend, all eyes will be on whether she can summon the composure and consistency that once made her queen of this course.
