Sarah Ababa took a step closer to ending a tedious pursuit of a second career win on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour as she padded her overnight four-stroke lead to six over Pamela Mariano despite a four-over 74 at the Marapara course on Thursday in Bacolod.

But her chief rivals likewise struggled in another wind-blown day in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Classic, enabling the Davaoeña shotmaker to virtually drive a wedge between her and her pursuers for a clear shot at the top P105,000 purse in the 54-hole championship.