Mondilla seizes control as Tabuena falters

MANILA, Philippines - Clyde Mondilla sparkled in cloudy, windy condition and grabbed a one-stroke lead with a 68 as erstwhile leader Miguel Tabuena wavered coming home off a late tee-off and slipped with a 73 halfway through the P3.5 million ICTSI Manila Masters at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.

Mondilla, chasing a second title after scoring a breakthrough at ICTSI Canlubang late last year, leaned on a strong backside charge of 33 then hit one birdie at the front for that 68, finding himself the surprise leader at five-under 139 with 36 holes to play in the second leg of the 16-stage Philippine Golf Tour.

Tabuena, who opened a three-stroke lead with a sterling 67 Wednesday, actually threatened to pull away with two birdies in the first nine holes for a seven-under total. But the 20-year-old defending champion turned cold and lost his touch on the putting surface on a hot afternoon finish, bogeying Nos. 10 and 12 before holing out with a double-bogey 6 on the 14th.

But he birdied the par-5 18th for the second straight day and salvaged a 39 for that 73 but dropped to second at 140, while Ferdie Aunzo proved hot on a cool, blustery start and shot a 32 en route to the day’s best 67 and a 141.

Tabuena’s backside foldup also enabled a slew of others to get back into the mix, including fancied Tony Lascuña and Angelo Que, who pooled 143s despite a pair of mediocre 71s as they joined Miguel Ochoa, who matched par 72, and Rufino Bayron and Japanese Toru Nakajima, who fumbled with 73s after similar 70s.

Arnold Villacencio, the second of four first-time Tour winners last year, bounced back strong from an opening 76 with an impressive 69, joining Sherwood Hills leg champion Charles Hong, who fired a 71, Carl Santos-Ocampo, who stumbled with a 74, and Korean Anthony Kim, who faltered with a 75, at ninth at 145.

Thirty others advanced to the final two rounds of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with Dutch Guido Van der Valk (75), Dino Villanueva (76) and Jomar Pepito (79) salvaging the last three spots at 152, the cut-off score.

Failing to make the cut were The Players’ Championship winner Mars Pucay (74-153), Royal Northwoods champion Zanie Boy Gialon (74-153), Jhonnel Ababa (78-153), Robert Pactolerin, 77-153), Tonton Asistio (78-154). Benjie Magada (76-154) and Michael Bibat (77-155) among others.

Cashing in on an early tee-time, Mondilla drilled in back-to-back birdies from No. 11, dropped a stroke on the 14th but pressed his charge with birdies on Nos. 15 and 18. He flubbed a couple of birdie chances in the first five holes at the front then finally gunned down a second straight birdie on the par-5 No. 6 before settling for pars for that 68.

Tabuena looked in control of his game – and the field he humbled here last year and at Splendido last week – despite teeing off late, hitting birdies on Nos. 3 and 6 to match his closing 34 at the front Wednesday. But he lost his rhythm at the back and threw away four strokes in the first five holes, needing to birdie the 18th from close range to stay in the hunt for a second straight championship.

But due for a big finish is Aunzo, the former amateur hotshot who put himself in contention with a birdie-binge at the front although he missed a couple of birdie opportunities at the back that could’ve given him a share of second or first.