Daniella Uy targets elusive LPGT title in Baguio

MANILA, Philippines — Coming up short in the final round in her last few tournaments, Daniella Uy hopes to close out in big fashion this time and nail the elusive victory in the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship, which begins today in Baguio.

Uy has had cracks at a maiden LPGT crown the last three months but just couldn’t seem to pull it off in the end, settling for second to Pauline del Rosario at Royal Northwoods last April and ending up third behind Chihiro Ikeda and del Rosario at Midlands last May.

The former Junior World titlist also emerged as the best-placed Filipina in last week’s ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic topped by Taiwanese amateur Yu-Chiang Hou via playoff over Thai Wanchana Poruangrong, sharing third place with Japanese Mayuna Furukawa.

She actually gained a share of the lead with nine holes left in the storm-hit event but reeled back with a bogey-riddled start at the back although she recovered with two birdies in the last three to salvage a share of third.

But those failed bids should toughen up the former Gonzaga U and Cal State stalwart, who is as eager as the rest of the compact field to get going at the up-and-down par-69 John Hay layout which puts emphasis on precision and putting.

Uy, however, will have her hands full in the next three days with Princess Superal also out to recall the form that netted her a record triumph where she posted a record 17-under 190 as an amateur to beat Ikeda by eight in the LPGT inaugurals in 2013.