Malixi likes chances in ICTSI Iloilo

ILOILO – Three of the big names on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour who fell short of expectations last week look to do better this time as the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge presented by MORE Power reels off today at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club here.

For one, the region’s oldest championship course provides bigger landing spots off the mound than Marapara, putting more emphasis on power although multiple hazards come into play in most holes, thus also requiring precision on iron play and wedge shots, including putting.

“I like the course, it’s a little bit more hilly than Marapara. The front nine is more like Valley South and the back like Aguinaldo,” said top amateur Rianne Malixi, whose run of victories in the country’s premier circuit came to an end with a joint third-place effort in last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge ruled by Chanelle Avaricio in come-from-behind fashion over Sarah

Ababa.

Malixi, 16, swept all her three stints in last year’s edition of the Tour put up by ICTSI, upstaging Princess Superal at Luisita then dominating the Valley and Riviera stops.

Daniella Uy, who said Marapara requires a lot of fade shots in contrast to her (draw) game, is brimming with confidence, saying: “Iloilo is more open so I can use my driver often.”

Like Malixi and Uy, Harmie Constantino likes her chances after a seventh-place effort at Marapara but braces for a more challenging week.

Beefing up the cast are amateurs Mafy Singson and Laurea Duque along with pros Rev Alcantara, Florence Bisera, Kristine Fleetwood, Apple Fudolin, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lesley Icoy, Majorie Pulumbarit, Eva Miñoza, Gretchen Villacencio, Sheryl Villacencio and former three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez.