BACK-TO-FORM AVARICIO GRABS 3-SHOT LPGT LEAD

Chanelle Avaricio finally rediscovered the rhythm, touch, and precision that once made her a dominant force on tour, firing a bogey-free 65 to seize a commanding three-stroke lead over Mafy Singson after two rounds of the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic on Wednesday.

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Avaricio, who opened with a steady 72, found her spark early with a birdie-par-birdie start at the back nine. She added another birdie on No. 16 and kept the momentum going with another flawless frontside effort, picking up strokes on Nos. 1, 3 and 9 to cap an impressive five-under-par 137 total at the Nicklaus course.

"I hit more fairways and I putted pretty good," said Avaricio, whose second round was highlighted by two long birdie putts. “I couldn't recall the average distance of my birdies, but it's more than a pin with two long putts.”