MORONG, Bataan — Defending champion Mafy Singson is returning to the season-ending match-play spotlight, but this time she faces a very different challenge.
After a frustrating 2026 campaign on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT), the Filipina golfer will attempt to rediscover her championship form at the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Match Play Invitational, scheduled for November 18–20 at Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club.
Singson enters the ₱1.5-million women’s competition without a tournament victory in eight LPGT appearances this season. Her best result was a runner-up finish, while her No. 12 position in the season’s Order of Merit reflects a campaign that has fallen short of her previous standards.
But match play could offer the defending champion an opportunity to change the narrative.
Unlike traditional stroke-play tournaments, where players compete to record the lowest total score over multiple rounds, match play focuses on winning individual holes against an opponent. One difficult hole does not necessarily ruin an entire match, giving players more opportunities to recover, adjust their strategy and regain momentum.
Singson has already demonstrated that she can thrive under those conditions. Now she must prove she can do it again against a strong field of Philippine and international contenders.
From a difficult season to another shot at the crown
Singson’s 2026 results have been inconsistent.
She opened her LPGT campaign with a tie for ninth at Lakewood before finishing runner-up to Harmie Constantino at Caliraya Springs. She later shared sixth place at Pinewoods, followed by ties for 12th at Summit Point, 18th at South Pacific and 13th at Apo.
Her early-season performances also included a tie for 37th at the Philippine Ladies Open and a joint 31st-place finish at the Kenda Tires Open in Taiwan, a co-sanctioned tournament involving the LPGT and Taiwan LPGA Tour.
Those results have left her outside the leading group in the season-long rankings.
However, the upcoming championship presents a different test. Singson will not need to outperform the entire field over a conventional stroke-play format. Instead, she must defeat her opponents one match at a time.
That change could be important for a player who has already shown the ability to deliver under pressure in knockout competition.
The championship run that keeps Singson’s hopes alive
Singson’s confidence can draw from her performance in the 2025 ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational.
During that tournament, she battled through the knockout rounds before reaching the final against Martina Miñoza.
Her semifinal against Daniella Uy was particularly dramatic. Singson secured a narrow one-up victory after producing a clutch birdie on the 17th hole, overcoming a tense late challenge to earn her place in the championship match.
She then delivered her strongest performance of the week in the final, defeating Miñoza 6&5 to capture the title.
The result was significant because Singson had struggled with her putting earlier in the tournament. Once her short game improved, she became increasingly difficult to stop.
The victory also capped a two-win season for Singson in 2025, adding to her earlier playoff triumph over Florence Bisera at Eagle Ridge.
That championship experience could become valuable as she attempts to defend her match-play crown at a different venue.
Yvon Bisera leads a dangerous women’s field
Singson’s path to another title will not be easy.
Leading the women’s field is Yvon Bisera, who recently secured her first LPGT Order of Merit championship after a strong season-long campaign.
Bisera enters the event with the confidence of a player who has consistently performed across the tour’s eight-leg season.
Also among the major contenders is Harmie Constantino, who finished the regular campaign as one of the tour’s strongest performers and captured the Apo leg title.
Other notable players include Tiffany Lee, Chanelle Avaricio, Sarah Ababa, Martina Miñoza, Princess Superal and Daniella Uy.
The tournament brings together the top 16 players from the season’s LPGT campaign, creating a compact field in which every matchup could have major consequences.
For Singson, the immediate challenge is particularly demanding: she is scheduled to face No. 5 seed Sarah Ababa in the opening round.
Ababa’s experience and consistency make her a difficult opponent, meaning Singson will need to establish control early rather than rely on a late comeback.
First-round matchups: Who stands between Singson and another title?
The women’s opening-round draw features several intriguing matchups.
Among the scheduled pairings:
- Mafy Singson vs. Sarah Ababa
- Yvon Bisera vs. Angela Mangana
- Harmie Constantino vs. Chihiro Ikeda
- Tiffany Lee vs. Rev Alcantara
- Chanelle Avaricio vs. Kim Seoyun
- Martina Miñoza vs. Velinda Castil
- Gretchen Villavicencio vs. Monica Mandario
- Princess Superal vs. Daniella Uy
The draw places several established LPGT contenders on a potential collision course, making the knockout format especially unpredictable.
For Singson, getting past Ababa would be an important first step toward another championship run.
Why match play could give Singson a fresh opportunity
Match play is a different psychological challenge from stroke play.
In a conventional tournament, one bad hole can affect a player’s overall score and position on the leaderboard. In match play, however, a player loses only that particular hole, allowing the contest to continue.
The format rewards more than distance and technical ability. Players must read their opponents, recognize opportunities, manage pressure and respond quickly when momentum changes.
A player who falls behind can still recover by winning consecutive holes. Conversely, a player with an early advantage must maintain concentration because a single mistake can shift the balance.
That is why Singson’s experience in last year’s knockout rounds could matter.
Her ability to stay composed against Daniella Uy and then produce a commanding final against Miñoza demonstrated that she can handle the format’s pressure.
Still, previous success does not guarantee another victory. The competition at Anvaya Cove will demand a new performance.
Anvaya Cove prepares to host the Philippine golf season finale
The ICTSI Anvaya Cove Match Play Invitational will bring the 2026 Philippine Golf Tour and Ladies Philippine Golf Tour seasons to a close from November 18 to 20.
The women’s championship carries a ₱1.5-million purse, while the men’s field will compete for ₱2 million.
The venue, Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club in Morong, Bataan, offers a different challenge from last year’s season-ending event at The Country Club.
The course features contrasting nine-hole sections, combining rugged mountain terrain with seaside holes. Its varied landscape places a premium on course management, shot selection and the ability to adjust to changing playing conditions.
The venue previously hosted the 2023 ICTSI Anvaya Cove Ladies Invitational, which was won by Bianca Pagdanganan by six strokes.
The return of professional golf to Anvaya Cove gives the season finale another significant setting, with the country’s leading players competing for one final opportunity to finish the year with a major victory.
More than a title: Singson needs a strong finish
The upcoming tournament is about more than defending a trophy.
After a season without a victory, a strong performance would give Singson an opportunity to rebuild momentum and demonstrate that she remains a serious contender in Philippine women’s golf.
Her runner-up finish at Caliraya Springs shows that she has been capable of challenging for a title this year. Her 2025 match-play championship also provides evidence that she can perform in a format where confidence and mental resilience are especially important.
But the competition is crowded with players arriving in stronger form, led by Order of Merit champion Yvon Bisera and other established contenders.
Singson will need to combine the lessons of her previous championship run with more consistent execution if she hopes to repeat her success.
The defending champion has already shown that she can overcome pressure and win when the stakes are highest. Now, with her 2026 season on the line, the question is whether Mafy Singson can turn a difficult year into another unforgettable match-play comeback.
