Becierra shoots 67, falls into 3-way tie

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  â€“ Dante Becierra bogeyed No. 5 on his way home and settled for a four-under 67, dropping to a three-way tie with Michael Bibat and Guido Van der Valk – one stroke ahead of unfancied Elmer Saban in a crowded leaderboard in the P1 million ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes Classic here yesterday.

With Bibat, who charged back with a 67, and Van der Valk, who carded a 69, safely on top at 135 after the morning round, Becierra pressed his bid in afternoon play with a 32 at the back then joined the duo at seven-under with a birdie on No. 1. He hit another birdie on No. 4 to wrest the solo lead only to fall back after flubbing a six-foot par-putt on the next for that 67.

“I misread it from a downhill lie,” said Becierra, who bested a tough field to win the Hong Kong Amateur Open crown in 2007, in Filipino.

Still, it was enough to put the Davaoeño shotmaker on track for a breakthrough although the road to victory looks daunting with Bibat and Van der Valk all primed up for a showdown in the last 18 holes of the event serving as the fifth leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by ICTSI.

“I’m more inspired to play my best tomorrow (today),” said Becierra, making his first stint in a championship flight in two years.

Bibat, outgunned by Van der Valk in their opening day shootout, got back at the Dutch ace, rattling off three birdies in the last six holes to complete a 34-33 card and match Van der Valk’s seven-under output after the erstwhile solo leader slowed down with a 69 after an impressive 66.

“My short irons clicked and I have started to get used to the speed of the greens. That’s the most important thing,” said the Srixon-backed Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist whose best finish in five years was fifth at Southwoods in 2008.

Bibat, who tied for sixth at ICTSI John Hay last April, actually gained on a two-shot swing on No. 3 with a birdie against Van der Valk’s bogey for an early share of the lead only to drop again with a second straight bogey on the ninth.

He fell behind by two with another bogey on No. 11 but birdied Nos. 13, 15 and 17 against Van der Valk’s lone birdie on 15th to force another tie.

Van der Valk survived his game-long struggle with his putter and was lucky to remain in the title hunt in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“Today (yesterday) I really played nice but failed to cash in my putts. That would have made the difference if I made some of it,” he said.

Elmer Saban, perhaps the least from among a slew of local bets to ever figure for the title race, also shot a 67 to grab solo fourth at 136, just one stroke behind, while Jay Bayron, another local ace, carded a bogey-free 69 for solo fifth at 137.

With Charles Hong and Rufino Bayron joining Elmer Salvador and Anthony Fernando at 138 after a 66 and 68, respectively, the battle for the top P200,000 purse could go down to the last putt.

Salvador birdied No. 1 then recovered from a bogey-bogey mishap from No. 3 with four birdies in the last 13 holes, including three straight from No. 6 as he shot a 68 while Fernando, the former national champion also seeking a breakthrough win as a pro, carded a 70.

Frankie Miñoza, who matched par in the first round, missed joining the 138 group with a closing bogey on No. 9 for a 68, dropping to fifth at 139 in a tie with Cassius Casas and Edward Reyes, who both had 68s.

Other three-under overall scorers were Edward Reyes, the third man in the Bibat-Van der Valk flight who shot a 68, and unheralded Reymon Jaraula, who shot a 69, and Rolando Marabe, who turned in a 70.

Defending champion Carl Santos-Ocampo made a 69 but remained too far behind at 140, five strokes adrift, in the company of Clyde Mondilla and Paul Miñoza, who had 67s, and Tony Lascuña, Richard Sinfuego, Rey Pagunsan, Benjie Magada and Jun Bernis, who all had 69s, and Mhark Fernando and Rene Menor, who settled for 71s.

Amateur LJ Go, who started the round in second just a stroke off Van der Valk, sputtered with a 73 and dropped to the big group of 140 scorers in the event backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp.