Chua cards even par to lead by two

Heidi Chua made her move yesterday, matching par to grab a 2-point margin with one round left in the 38th Southern Ladies Open at the Bacolod Golf & Country Club in Bacolod City.

The 23-year-old defending champion from Wack Wack had one birdie against a bogey in shooting 34-36 at the short but extra-tight par-70 course carved right at the heart of a robust sugar plantation.

Adding her 1-over 53 points the day before using the Molave points system, Chua overtook first-day leader Carmelette Villaroman of Canlubang in a determined bid to prove that her win in Cagayan de Oro last year was no fluke.

"She’s really focused on winning again this year," said Vic Chua, Heidi’s father. "I have given her all the encouragement that she needed before she came here to defend her crown."

Villaroman couldn’t sustain her par-matching effort of 54 points on Wednesday en route to a 3-over-par 51, failing to recover from a first-hole bogey in a birdie-less day for the 24-year-old 1993 Philippine Open champion.

But with Heidi’s 107 points as against Villaroman’s 105, a thrilling finale is expected today as the two gird for a final-round shootout in the NGAP-organized series that stakes a Mizuno golf set as a hole-in-one prize.

Lina de Guzman, also of Canlubang, was third at 103 only 4 points behind Chua following a fighting 53 in the event sponsored by DHL, Hidden Spring, DPC, the city government of Bacolod, PAL, VF Belmonte Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Bacolod Executive Inn and Master Sports.

The rest of the field in the championship division (0-10 handicap) include Loralie Roberto of Riviera with 49-48-97, Therese Dabao of Sta. Elena with 47-50-97, Lucy Landicho of Canlubang with 51-43-94, Anya Tanpinco of Bacolod with 45-46-91, Tracy Locsin of Canlubang with 42-48-90, Carina Ricamonte of Sta. Elena with 44-45-89, Aileen Chua of Canlubang with 49-39-88, Sheila Dollosa of Bacolod with 49-43-83, Ruby Chico Walker of Canlubang with 36-45-81 and Marjorie Lopingco of Alabang with 29-39-68.

Others:

Class A (11-17 handicap): Maita Lustre (Negros) 48-45=91, Cecile Co (Lanang) 48-41=87, Jocelyn Garcia (Negros) 43-41=84.

Class B (18-23 handicap): Aurora Ibo (Riviera) 41-39=80, Arlette Dizon (Southwoods) 35-37=72, Aloma Lopez (Wack Wack) 35-35-70.

Class C (24-28): Grace Banas (Bacolod) 41-38=77, Betsy Tuason (Club Filipino) 38-39=77, Ellen Chua (Wack Wack) 38-36=74.

Class D (30-36): Farah Imperial (Wack Wack) 30-31=61, Victoria Tan (Lanang) 33-22=55, Ester Garcia (Wack Wack) 26-25=51, Gina Regalado (Negros) 29-22-51.