STA. Rosa, Laguna – Two of the top three seeds who have each won two legs on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour are putting a premium on smart, calculated play as the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational comes off the wraps Tuesday, Nov. 25, at TCC here.
Still, despite their status as favorites, Sarah Ababa and Chanelle Avaricio are keeping expectations in check. Both acknowledge that match play – unlike the season-long stroke-play grind – levels the playing field and gives every qualifier a real shot at the season-ending crown.
Only the Top 16 performers from the 10-leg LPGT season have earned spots in the field.
“Sa match play, hole-by-hole ang laban, hindi total score,” said Ababa. “Minsan kailangan mong maging aggressive, depende sa kalaban at situation. Kailangan mas quick mag-adjust at mag-isip ng smart shots.”
“It’s more of a mental game, so focus and composure on every hole are crucial,” added the Davaoeña ace, who surged late in the season with tight victories at Del Monte and South Pacific to clinch the Order of Merit title.
Avaricio shares the same mindset, saying success this week will depend less on pure shot-making and more on tactical decisions – particularly in the unpredictable, head-to-head format where momentum can shift in a single swing.
“No expectations for the match play, because it’s different from stroke play. I’ll just do my best hole-by-hole and enjoy,” said Avaricio, who rediscovered top form with a dominant win at Forest Hills. She later avenged a playoff loss to Ababa by clinching another commanding triumph at Apo.
“On strategy, I think I’ll play my game hole-by-hole and make smart decisions in every shot. Hopefully it will be good,” added Avaricio, also the top Filipina finisher at tied 13th in last week’s Party Golfers Ladies Open in Taiwan, the annual tournament co-sanctioned by Taiwan LPGA Tour and the LPGT.
While both players are entering the week with confidence, they were quick to point out that match play often produces results far different from stroke-play expectations. A lower seed can eliminate a favorite in an instant, a single bad hole can flip an entire match and momentum can vanish – or surge – without warning.
For that reason, Ababa is approaching the P1.5 million event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaemtns, Inc., with excitement rather than pressure. Fresh off her first OOM title and riding the momentum of her South Pacific victory, she looks to stay steady in the volatile format.
“Excited ako. Iba kasi ang format pero goal ko same pa rin – stay calm, focus sa bawat shot at i-execute ang game plan,” she said. “Gusto ko lang dalhin yung momentum from my recent win and play my best.”
Her first-round opponent is Kayla Nocum, who finished No. 17 in the OOM but earned the final berth after No. 6 Princess Superal withdrew to compete in the Japan Q-School.
Focus is also on second seed Florence Bisera, eyeing a third win this season after victories at Negros Occidental – where she edged Kim Seoyun in a playoff – and in Thailand. She narrowly missed another title at South Pacific, finishing one stroke behind Ababa, but remains determined to defend her match-play crown as she opens against Velinda Castil.
The third-seeded Avaricio, meanwhile, faces a challenging first-round matchup against the gritty and confident Kim, while No. 4 seed Mafy Singson, who edged Bisera in a playoff at Eagle Ridge, tests her match-play mettle against Apple Fudolin.
Other featured pairings include last year’s four-leg winner and reigning OOM champion Harmie Constantino vs. Pamela Mariano; Chihiro Ikeda vs. Daniella Uy; and Martina Minoza vs. Gretchen Villacencio.
Winners will advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Thursday. The champions of these brackets will then square off for the title on Friday.
