Ababa, Manalo force 3-way tie at helm after opening 72s

MANILA, Philippines – Sarah Ababa and Louise Manalo matched par 72 to force a three-way tie for the lead with American Kendall Prince at the start of the Univ. of New Mexico Challenge at the UNM Golf Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico over the weekend.

Chasing their first titles on the FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour), the ICTSI golf scholars turned in similar rounds in contrasting fashions with Ababa blowing a one-under card with a bogey on No. 17 for a 35-37 round and Manalo birdying No. 18 to salvage a 33-39 card.

Manalo, the reigning RP Ladies Open champion out to improve her third place finish in the Mission Hills North recently, actually squandered a solid start of 33 with four bogeys in the next eight holes at the back, including a three-string from No. 10. She needed to hole out with a birdie to gain a share of the lead.

The 14-year-old Ababa, on the other hand, is looking for her first win in the FCWT girls’ 13-15 category after finishing runner-up to ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda at Mission Hills North two weeks ago. She also finished third in the San Ramon Open and wound up fourth twice in the Terra Lago Open and the Mission Inn Challenge.