Amateur Rianne Malixi made it three in a row over the country’s top pros after posting a two-shot victory in the ICTSI Riviera Championship at the Langer course in Silang, Cavite Thursday.
The 15-year-old prodigy fired a third straight two-over-par 73 to hold off Korean amateur Kim Seoyun who shot the tournament’s only sub-par round — a 68.
Malixi struggled in the opening nine holes which allowed Sarah Ababa to get a piece of the lead at the turn.
She made three bogeys and a double bogey against only one birdie to go 4-over.
“It was super hectic in the first nine. It was really off — my drives, irons, short game, and putting. But then I told myself to calm down and drink a lot of water. Then I hit back-to-back birdies from No. 10 and didn’t concede consecutive putts and saved up-and-downs,” Malixi said.
“I was just glad that I was able to hold my head high and I was really patient today and I think that’s the key,” Malixi added.
Ababa’s rally was short-lived as she stumbled with three bogeys at the back to finish with a 74, dropping her to a tie for third with Harmie Constantino and amateur Mafy Singson who each had a 75.
Kim bounced back from a two-over 37 frontside with an eagle on the par-5 No. 10 and three birdies in the next five holes to wind up on 8-over completing a 1-2 sweep by amateur golfers.
Constantino split the top purse with Ababa, each getting P198,750.