Casas, Ababa share 1-shot lead

BUKIDNON, Philippines – Cassius Casas birdied two of the last three holes to fire a five-under 67 for a share of the lead with Jhonnel Ababa – one stroke ahead over Mhark Fernando and Anthony Fernando in a crowded leaderboard at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Del Monte Championship here yesterday.

Casas, a “lucky winner” here last year when Juvic Pagunsan, Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego were disqualified on a final hole infraction, used a near-impeccable iron game to gun down seven birdies in close range at the mountain-top Del Monte course where he ended a long title drought in a tumultuous finish.

“I really want to prove that I deserved that win,” said Casas, referring to last year’s edition of the event where he was resigned to another failed bid and was about to leave the club when he was told of the troika’s infraction.

But after that win, Casas went on a slump again until he put himself in early contention this week with a brilliant 67, marred by two missed green bogeys and four flubbed birdie putts from four feet.

“I could’ve shot better but missed four birdie chances inside four feet,” said Casas. “But I believe I still got what it takes to win.”

Ababa also believes he’s in for another title shot, his confidence boosted by his breakthrough win in Iloilo last month. Like Casas, he rode on an explosive frontside windup – five birdies in the last nine holes for a 31 and a 67.

“My putting clicked,” said Ababa, who made 13 putts at the front, in Filipino. “I’ve gained so much confidence in my game since I won in Iloilo.”

He actually turned in a third place finish in last week’s ICTSI Apo Invitational dominated by Pagunsan, who came into this event the overwhelming favorite with four leg wins in eight legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

But the ace Bacolod pro struggled a bit in a late-afternoon tee-off, needing to birdie three of the last five holes to recover from a one-over card and join the other top guns at 70, who included Artemio Murakami, Elmer Salvador and Gerald Rosales.

Fernando, the former national champion still in search of his maiden pro victory, birdied four of the last six holes to shoot a four-under 68, while Anthony Fernando, also a former national titlist, completed a bogey-free 34-34 card in one of the last flights.

Marvin Dumandan shot a 69 for joint fifth with amateurs Leonard Lofranco and Art Arbole while the other two-under scorers were Dante Becierra, Jerson Balasabas, Antonio Asistio II, Randy Garalde, Rico Depilo, James Ryan Lam and Richard Abaring.

Angelo Que and Tony Lascuña, the two other fancied players, turned in a pair 71s to join the group of Mars Pucay, Rey Pagunsan, Rolando Marabe, Arnold Villacencio while reigning Order of Merit champion Jay Bayron struggled a bit and settled for a 72, five shots off the joint leaders.

Ababa, who rallied from five strokes down with a closing 66 then nipped Bayron in the first playoff hole to capture the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge crown, knocked down five birdies in his last nine holes at the front, putting him on top of a star-studded field and on track for a crack at a second crown in the last three legs.