Angelo Que joins title chase as Aboitiz unwraps

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines — Angelo Que hopes to complete an unfinished business, cashing on a break from his hectic Japan PGA Tour campaign to lead the title hunt in the $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational starting today at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Palmer Course here.

Que battled Miguel Tabuena through four days of brilliant shotmaking at Manila Southwoods last year but fell short by one despite a 22-under card with the long-hitting shotmaker back in pursuit of the coveted crown in what has become a major championship that has eluded him at least twice.

The former three-time Asian Tour winner, who also placed second to two-time champion Elmer Salvador in the fourth edition of the event in Cebu in 2013, hopes to get going right in the first round of the fifth leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour Asia in a duel with Tony Lascuña and Korean Kim Dae Won at 7:10 a.m. on No. 10.

With the par-72 Palmer layout in top shape, premium will be on shotmaking with the power-hitters given the slight edge on a course which differs from the tight layouts that the men of the tour had tackled in the Visayas and Mindanao swing of the PGT the last three months.

But Que will be as much tested as the rest of the field, including Jhonnel Ababa, one of the marked men this week following his victory in last week’s rain-shortened ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational.

“I think I can score back-to-back wins,” said Ababa, who also ruled the PGTA fourth leg at Forest Hills last July. “I feel good, confident. I think long hitters have the edge on the par-5s, which are reachable.”