Nakajima tames Wack Wack, keeps lead

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Toru Nakajima conquered Wack Wack East Course’s monster holes and winds that blew all day and plucked a one-under 71 to stay three shots up on Elmer Salvador and South Korean Shin Micah after two rounds of the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship yesterday.

After surprising everyone by zooming to the lead with a blistering opening day 69, Nakajima took charge despite a shaky start at the back of the windy afternoon flight, blasting away three birdies on Nos 1, 3 and 7 to complete a  38-33 round, good enough to keep him at the helm with a two-day aggregate of 140.

“I was nervous at the start, the wind is also strong,” said Nakajima, a Tokyo native who has been a childhood friend of Artemio Murakami.

And Nakajima, who finished in the Top 10 in all three legs in this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour including  joint third  in the kickoff leg at Sherwood, hopes to sustain the momentum of his strong start and lay claim to his first title of the year.

“I hope so,” said Nakajima.

Salvador missed closing the gap with Nakajima after he flubbed No. 17 and ended up with a 70 to share second spot with Shin, who had a 71, on 143s.

Michael Bibat, out to win his second title after his victory at Palos Verdes in Davao City last July, took a shot at the lead with a fiery start before getting stymied by a pair of bogeys in the final six holes to finish with the day’s best with a 69 to make up for an opening day 75.

The 29-year-old Bibat, who is enjoying his best season yet since turning pro five years back as he is currently running 11th overall in the Order of Merit race, went on a blistering mode as he sank long birdie putts after birdie putts including two on Nos. 13 and two from as far as 20 feet and another pair from 10 feet.

In between, Bibat, sank an easy four-foot birdie putt on the 17th before blasting a 15-foot, par-saving putt straight from the bunker on the next hole before his two bogeys stymied his bid to get to the top or at least near it.

But it could have gone worse.

“I sank eight-foot and four-foot putts on Nos. 4 and 7 when it could have gone really worse,” said Bibat, who has cracked the top 10 five times this year including Del Monte, Baguio, Orchard and Tagaytay.

“Overall, I played really well considering the demanding conditions,” he added.

Bibat said he is eyeing to end the year with a title although he’s already contented with what he achieved the whole year round after accomplishing the goals he set up for himself.

“My goal this year is to at least win one leg and make the top 10 at least five times, all of which I’ve already accomplished. Winning or making the top 10 here will be the icing on the cake,” he said.

Cassius Casas, coming off his pulsating win in Canlubang two weeks back, and Jay Bayron, the ICTSI John Hay winner, made a strong charge by carding 71 and 70, respectively, to join Bibat in that group with even-par 144s.

Mhark Fernando and Benjie Magada had a 74 and 72 to share seventh spot with 145s.

Jhonnel Ababa, Mars Pucay and Elmer Saban scored 72, 77 and 75 to round out the top 10 with 147s going into the last two rounds of this 72-hole event serving as the final leg of the 15-stage circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

The other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.