Abelar still in contention

MANILA, Philippines — Nicole Abelar finished strong to salvage a one-under 72 and stay in contention while Tomi Arejola and Rianne Malixi sputtered with 76 and 77, respectively, and are in danger of missing the cut in the US Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington Monday.

Abelar, playing out of the University of Houston, sprang back from a two-over card after 10 holes with three birdies in the last eight as she tied for 21st on a 38-34 card at the start of the 36-hole stroke play elims.

A number of bidders, however, still have to complete first-round play at presstime.

The Filipina ace, who gained entry into the 156-player field by placing fourth in the New Jersey qualifier, hopes to match her strong finish at the backside of the par-73 layout where she would launch her second day drive Tuesday.

The top 64 after the elims will move to the match play phase starting Wednesday with Arejola and Malixi hard-pressed to churn out low rounds to salvage spots in the knockout rounds.

Also starting at the front, Arejola, now with Campbell University after spending her first two years at Fairleigh Dickinson U in New Jersey, faltered with a 41 marred by a double bogey on the par-5 No. 8.

Like Abelar, she fought back with birdies on Nos. 10 and 13 but unlike the former, she stumbled with a bogey on the closing par-5 hole and ended up with a 35 for a 76 and a share of 80th.

Worse was Malixi, who came into the event exuding confidence but lost track of her game.

early after dropping two strokes right on the par-4 No. 10.

That wobbly start led to three straight bogeys from No. 11 and though she flourished with her short irons and birdied the two par-3s (Nos. 15 and 17), the ICTSI-backed shotmaker yielded another stroke on No. 16 and made the turn at 40.

Though she checked her slide at the front and didn’t drop a single shot, she failed to gain any stroke, her even-par 37 and a 77 dropping her to joint 99th, three strokes behind the cutoff line.

Meanwhile, Chinese Alice Zhao sizzled in a backside start, hitting six birdies that cushioned the impact of her two-birdie, two-bogey frontside card for the lead at 67.