Singson wins first ladies’ golf title

Mafy Singson, an amateur golfer who failed to win a professional title four times, finally clinched that elusive crown, by ruling the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship under the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) by one stroke, fending off pro favorites Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio and Harmie Constantino.

A bogey-bogey skid from Hole 14 failed to prevent Singson, who hails from Davao, from claiming the LPGT title after Baraquiel slid with double bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 and blew a two-stroke lead while Avaricio and Constantino fell short of their playoff bids with pars on the last two holes.

“I didn’t really expect to win. I want to catch up with them (pros) and it was really a close fight, especially at the back,” said Singson, who battled back from two down, went two-up after Baraquiel’s misses and held sway the rest of the way with gutsy pars to prevail with a 215 total.

“I just tried to keep (my lead) and tried to make birdies but they didn’t drop,” added the ICTSI-backed shot maker, who is coached by Bong Lopez at the Manila Southwoods.

Singson is a member of the Philippine team that snatched the bronze in the recent Vietnam SEA Games. She emerged on top after putting herself in title contention in at least four LPGT events last year. Late-hole stumbles kept the 17-year-old out of the top podium finish while settling for low amateur honors.

But with 71 and 72 in the first two rounds, she stayed in the hunt, bounced back from a bogey on No. 2 in the final round with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, fell by one as Baraquiel birdied the 10^th but surged ahead as the latter fumbled with her first double bogey coupled with Singson’s birdie on No. 10.

“I learned a lot from the them (pros),” said Singson who is slated to participate in the US Girls’ Junior qualifying and in a number FCG tournaments in the US.