Avaricio Climbs Leaderboard Amid Challenging Conditions at Taiwan Ladies Golf Open

TAIWAN – Chanelle Avaricio delivered an impressive performance in the second round of the Party Golfers Ladies Open, overcoming adverse weather conditions to card a one-under-par 71 at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu. Her strong showing helped the Philippines’ contingent recover on a day when many struggled against persistent cold and gusty winds.

After opening with a 76, Avaricio demonstrated remarkable composure and adaptability on the challenging hillside course. She began the round with two early birdies within the first three holes before offsetting a setback on the eighth hole with a birdie on the ninth. Despite a bogey on the 10th, she maintained steady play for the remainder of the back nine, parring through conditions that steadily worsened.

Avaricio’s total score after 36 holes moved her from a shared 37th place to a tie for 17th position, finishing seven strokes behind new leader Wenny Chang. Chang surged ahead with an outstanding front nine 31, concluding the round at 69 and holding a 140 aggregate.

Highlighting her comeback, Avaricio attributed her success to improvements in her short game near the greens. She noted, "My short game was so much better, especially my around-the-green. I didn't really think of what to score. I just wanted to focus on every shot."

Looking ahead to the final round of this 54-hole event co-sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA and LPGT, Avaricio emphasized the importance of improved accuracy off the tee and more consistent iron shots. "I'll try to hit my tee shots in the right spots and hit more greens in regulation," she added.

Meanwhile, other Filipino contenders faced difficulties. Florence Bisera posted a 77, dropping from joint 8th to a tie for 30th. Princess Superal and Daniella Uy also found the conditions challenging, scoring 74 and 75 respectively. LK Go experienced a particularly tough day, shooting an 80 and falling 37 places to tie for 45th, narrowly advancing past the cut.

Among the Filipino players, Mafy Singson moved up to a position tied for 36th with a 74, successfully making the cut, whereas Marvi Monsalve missed the cut by a single stroke despite a solid 73 on Thursday.

At the top of the leaderboard, Wenny Chang leads following her blistering front nine. Despite a few late-round errors, she remains poised, stating, "I'll stick to my shots and take things step by step. I'll just focus on what I do best and make sure I enjoy being out there."

Overnight leader Ho Yu An stumbled with a 74, dropping to a tie for third alongside local player Juliana Hung, who carded a 71. This sets the stage for an intense local battle as the tournament moves into its final 18 holes.