Arbole seizes solo lead in ICTSI Negros Classic
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Fourteen years of waiting have brought Art Arbole to a place he has long dreamed of reaching: the top of a Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard with a championship within sight.
Arbole took a major step toward ending that long title drought Tuesday, producing a personal-best 36-hole total and a bogey-free 67 to seize solo control at the halfway mark of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.
For the second straight day, the short but tricky layout yielded to Arbole’s steady all-around game. More importantly, the performance gave the journeyman his first outright lead after two rounds — a position that carried both promise and pressure as the tournament heads into the pivotal final 36 holes.
“This is the first time that I was able to lead in two days. My game continues to come together — driving, irons and putting,” said Arbole, his eyes betraying the excitement of a player who knows how close he is to a long-awaited breakthrough.
“I just need to stay focused day-to-day. Basta mag-connect lang lahat,” added Arbole, who overcame a double bogey in the opening round with an eagle and five birdies to share the lead with Jhonnel Ababa at 65.
Now, with two rounds still to play, Arbole is refusing to look beyond the next shot.
“Hanggang Thursday na lang. Ulitin mo lang ’yung ginawa mo sa first two days,” he kept telling himself as motivation.
Focus lang sa mga shots na hindi mag-trouble. I’ll do my very best in the last two days,” said Arbole, who missed three birdie putts but made four scrambling pars at the back.
“Mahirap talaga ang back nine ng Marapara,” added Arbole, who turned pro in 2012 with a career-best Top 5 finish.
Arbole’s eight-under 132 put him one stroke clear of Ababa, but the chasing pack is close enough to make the third round a potential turning point.
“Kailangan dito steady ang driving mo,” said Ababa, who stayed within striking distance with a 68 despite another costly bogey on the par-5 18th.
Starting on No. 10, Ababa parred his first eight holes before dropping a stroke on No. 18 for the second straight day.
He recovered in style, however, with three birdies on the front nine to salvage his round and move to 133.
“’Yung back nine ko, hindi masyadong maganda dahil ilang greens lang tinamayan ko, tapos ’yung paborito kong hole — No. 18 — bogey na naman. Pero nakabawi naman sa front nine,” said Ababa.
He rued a third shot that hit a divot on No. 18 after a solid drive and second shot.
“Maganda naman yung drive ko at second shot sa No. 18, pero yung third shot tumama sa divot kaya na-bogey,” he said.
Still, the former Order of Merit winner remains firmly in the hunt as he tries to add another title to his résumé after edging Guido van der Valk in a sudden-death playoff at Apo in 2024.
Only one stroke separates the top two, while Jeffren Lumbo lurks three shots behind Arbole at 135.
Lumbo erased the bitter memory of a triple-bogey 8 on No. 18 that marred his otherwise impressive opening-round 68, firing another 67 highlighted by four straight birdies from No. 4.
He is tied with van der Valk, who also carded a three-under card in another scorching day.
Lumbo is chasing a second PGT title after breaking through at South Pacific last year, while van der Valk is likewise looking to snap a lengthy title drought.
Albin Engino carded another 68 to move into solo fifth at 136, while Clyde Mondilla also shot a 68 to join Randy Garalde (69), Russell Bautista (70), defending two-time champion Rupert Zaragosa (70) and Josh Jorge (71) in a share of sixth at 138.
The tour’s biggest names all survived the cut and advanced to the final 36 holes of the P2.5-million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., but they now face a sizable deficit and will need a strong Moving Day charge to get back into the thick of the title fight.
Aidric Chan shot a 69 but remained tied for 17th at 141 with Tony Lascuña, who slipped to 72, along with Ira Alido (70) and Edmar Salvador Jr. (70).
Caliraya Springs and Summit Point leg winner Angelo Que rebounded from a 73 with a 69 to join Erwin Madrileño (70), Jobim Carlos (72) and Jay Bayron (75) at 21st at 142.
Eight players caught the last bus at the cutoff score of 145: Rico Depilo (71), Kim Tae Soo (72), Jeremy Tandoy (72), Ramil Bisera (73), Boni Salahog (73), Gab Manotoc (74), Francis Morilla (75) and Kristoffer Arevalo (76).
For Arbole, however, the numbers that matter most are 132 — and 14.
The first is his halfway score. The second is the number of years he has spent chasing a PGT title.
With two rounds left, the elusive championship that has stayed just beyond his reach is finally beginning to look tangible. (Pool story)
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