Former national champ holds sway with 69

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Fidel Concepcion birdied the first two holes then endured a virtual survival test in the first round to wrest early control in the ICTSI Riviera Championship with a 69 at the Langer course here yesterday.

While the top guns pressed their bids in a windy start then faded in punishing conditions at the dreaded par-71 layout, Concepcion held on in a roller-coaster ride for a 34-35 round and a two-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando.

He eagled the par-5 10th but double-bogeyed the long par-3 12th then birdied No. 16 to negate a mishap on the ninth and emerge the leader in the P2 million tournament marking the return of the Philippine Golf Tour after a three-month break.

Concepcion limped to 32nd in the last PGT stop at Eagle Ridge-Aoki won by absentee Mike Bibat last July but toughened up on the Asian Development Tour during the lull.

He didn’t have as much success on the Asian Tour farm league with a number of missed cuts and a best 32nd place finish in the Indo Masters Invitational last June. But he used the experience to get into a fine start on a course that saw the early rise and fall of the Tour’s revered players.

“I played very well and happy to be able to play Philippine golf again,” said Concepcion, still in pursuit of a maiden championship. “I had led many times but just couldn’t sustain my game.”

Fernando, the former national champion still in the hunt for the elusive pro crown, produced a rare birdie feat on the tough finishing par-4 hole to salvage a 71.

Meanwhile, Mafy Singson came out better than the rest in a faltering finish in the Ladies PGT, posting a one-over 72 for a one-stroke lead over Rianne Malixi in an early show of force by the amateurs.

Malixi appeared headed for another fine start with a steady one-birdie, one-bogey card after 16 holes but the runaway winner at Valley bogeyed the last two holes at dusk for a 73, enabling Singson, who blew an even par card with a bogey on the 17th two flights ahead, to move in front.

“Langer is a tough course so I just try to play steady, hit the fairways and greens,” said Singson.