Fiery start up as PGT Iloilo unwraps

ILOILO, Philippines — Jobim Carlos draws Jay Bayron in an early duel of the fancied bets while young Korean Kim Joo Hyung slugs it out with a fired-up tandem of Tony Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla kicking off the rich ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara here today.

Though the par-70, 6053-yard layout appears to be short by the men of the tour’s standards, it remains one challenging course ready to bring out the best or worst from the field, ensuring another tight start and a tighter finish in their battle for top honors in the 72-hole championship put up by ICTSI.

“The course is too short but you need to be very careful. Playing the course is really tough and there are  troubles everywhere,” said Manila-based Dutch Guido Van der Valk, still in search for a follow-up to his breakthrough win at PGT Eagle Ridge last March.

He tees off at 8:05 a.m. with Kris Etter and Keanu Jahns on No. 10.

Carlos, the hottest player on the tour today with two victories, two runner-up finishes and two more top six efforts in the last six tournaments in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc, remains the top favorite this week. His amazing surge since posting his first victory at PGT Asia Riviera last June has also put him on top of the Order of Merit derby.

He missed nailing his third crown in two months with a playoff loss to Juvic Pagunsan in Negros last weekend.

“Actually I lost because of my mistakes. But I think it will make me a stronger, better player,” said Carlos.

But Bayron will provide the early challenge in their 7:35 a.m. encounter, along with amateur Jason Zaragosa, with the former, winner at PGTA Southwoods last June, also out to redeem himself from a joint 19th finish at Negros last week which he co-led in the first round.

“I just have to stay focused and be able to make the right decisions,” said Bayron.

Kim, 16, also seeks to atone for his final round foldup at Negros where he succumbed to pressure while playing alongside Carlos and Juvic Pagunsan in the final round, together with Mondilla, the reigning PGT OOM winner who finally hit his stride in Binitin with a strong joint fourth effort but faltered in Negros and struggled to finish tied for 30th.