Carlos stuns field with 68, leads by two shots

MANILA, Philippines - Jobim Carlos humbled a star-studded field with a four-under par 68, seizing a two-shot lead over reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla and Art Arbole despite a final-hole bogey at the start of the Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championship at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna yesterday.

Carlos, who helped power the national team to the Lion City Cup victory in Malaysia recently, birdied two of the last three holes at the front, added two more on Nos. 10 and 11 then went five-under with another birdie on the par-5 16th.

But the bespectacled shotmaker, also the low amateur in last week’s ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Championship of the Philippine Golf Tour, failed to complete a bogey-free round as he stumbled with a bogey on the 18th for a 34-34 card.

That, however, hardly shook him off the lead as he kept a two-stroke lead over Mondilla, chasing his second major championship and first stroke-play crown after ruling the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship at home in Bukidnon early in the year, a match-play event.

Mondilla, also a member of the Lion City Cup winning team, rallied at the back with four birdies, including three straight from No. 10, as the Del Monte bet strung up with a 37-33 round for a 70 to tie Arbole in second.

Arbole, a teammate of Carlos in the ICTSI-Cangolf squad, knocked down three birdies in the first 10 holes but dropped two strokes on Nos. 11 and 14 before holing out with a birdie for a 34-36 card.

Defending champion Jhonnel Ababa, in his second to last amateur tournament, continued to grope for form, along with the other fancied bets in the 54-hole tournament, hosted by Cangolf as part of its commitment to help amateur golf and sponsored by The Turf Company and Pacsports Phils.

Mhark Fernando, one of the top favorites to rule this 11th staging of the annual event, wavered at the back after a solid 35, finishing with a 40 for a 75 for a share of 16th place with ICTSI-The Country Club bets Brent Sumampong and Chuckie Hong, Park Jung Ki of Eagle Ridge and Riviera’s Jun Bo Kyu.

Ababa, who will turn pro after the World Amateurs later this month, limped home with a four-over 76 in a tie with top ICTSI-TCC bets Dante Becierra, Peter Villaber and Justin Limjap along with Riviera’s Jung Han Min, Cebu’s Gio Gandiongco and Orchard’s Rafael Quiban.

Wang Jeung Hun, also of Riviera, turned in a 34-37 to grab fourth place with ICTSI-TCC’s Zanieboy Gialon while Jessie Balasabas of ICTSI-Cangolf matched par 72 for a share of sixth with Joey Huerva and Sonny Villaber.

Jey Mathay of Sta. Elena carded a 73 to join Riviera’s Sung Hwan Yoon and Alexes Nallos in ninth place while Carlos Miguel Ochoa, Nam Seung Hee, Richard Joson and Sun Ji Soo stood a shot back at 74.

Meanwhile, action in the 36-hole ladies division, headed by ICTSI teammates Lovelynn Guioguio, Daniela Uy, Andie Unson, Sarah Ababa and Geleen Handog, begins today.

Also on tap are the competitions in Classes A (11 below), B (12-20) and C (21 and above).

Other backers of the event are ICTSI, Dynamic Sports, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., GolfWorx, Jose Ma. Hechanova, Rudy Project, Greenlink Trading, Otsuka (Phils) Pharmaceutical, Inc., MayCar Foods, Inc., Merlo Agricultural Corp., Mesaland Dev’t. Corp., Nature’s Spring, Pilipinas Golfbag Mfg., San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Seamecor, Inc., and Whealth, Inc.