Abano wrests 4-shot lead in Minda Am

MANILA, Philippines - Banny Abano, still taking his hot Philippine Airlines Interclub form, shot a flawless opening round of five-under-par 67 on Tuesday to grab a four-stroke lead in the NGAP’s Mindanao Regional Amateur Championship at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.

Abano, 22, who cracked par in his two rounds for men’s champion Del Monte last week, gunned down five birdies without a bogey in an impressive display of all-around brilliance over the heavily wooded Del Monte layout.

Art Arbole, of ICTSI-Cangolf, fired a 71 and was the last player with a sub-par card even as ICTSI-The Country Club’s Raymund Jaraula and local bet Leonard Lofranco took the next two spots with 72s.

Paul Echavez and Zannie Boy Gialon, the other bet from ICTSI-TCC, were tied with 73s along with two others, including Noel Langamin, to remain in the mix in the event presented by Pancake House and SOC Land and backed by Callaway and Odyssey Golf and the Del Monte golf club.

The tournament aims to name the top three Mindanao natives that will be given all-expenses paid trips to Manila for the Philippine Amateur championship slated April 12-15 at The Riviera in Silang, Cavite.

Abano shot three of his birdies in the front nine before closing birdie-par-birdie, never cooling off from rounds of 70 at Del Monte and 71 at Pueblo de Oro last week that keyed a solid Del Monte start in the Interclub.

Clyde Mondilla, the 17-year-old who will defend his title at Riviera, withdrew because of a prior commitment to play in the foreign-flavored Montecillo Cup next week at Malarayat as official practice rounds are scheduled later this week.

The 54-hole ladies’ event of the tournament teed off Wednesday featuring some mainstays of the ICTSI stables led by Daniella Uy and Sarah Ababa.