Singson banks on Match Play magic to revive title defense bid

MANILA, Philippines — Mafy Singson hardly comes into the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Match Play Invitational looking like a defending champion poised for another title run. With no victory and just one runner-up finish in eight Ladies Philippine Golf Tour appearances this season, Singson's campaign has been far from encouraging. Her No. 12 finish in the LPGT Order of Merit likewise reflects a season marked more by struggles than by the form that made her a champion. But if there's one thing that could work in her favor, it's the very format of the P1.5-million championship set Nov. 18-20 at Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan. Unlike stroke play, where consistency over four rounds is paramount, match play offers a different proposition – one that Singson has already shown she can handle, even when her game isn't firing on all cylinders. She proved that in last year's edition of the season-ending championship, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., at The Country Club, where she overcame early-round struggles, including an inconsistent putting touch, to emerge as the last player standing. Singson displayed remarkable composure in the knockout rounds, surviving pressure and momentum swings before draining a clutch birdie on No. 17 to edge Daniella Uy by one hole...