Song recovers with 65 to seize ICTSI South Pacific Classic lead
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Lee Song turned an early eagle and a blistering birdie run into a bogey-free 65, storming to the outright lead in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Wednesday and edging Gab Manotoc by one stroke at the South Pacific Golf Club.
Recovering emphatically from a costly late-round mistake in his opening card, Song turned in a 34-31 for a 12-under-par 132 total, moving ahead of Manotoc, who carded a 67 to stay firmly in contention at 133. Sean Ramos likewise kept himself in the title hunt with a 66 for 134.
With 36 holes remaining in the P2.5-million championship, the leaderboard remained tightly bunched, promising a compelling battle over the final two rounds.
Clyde Mondilla shot a 69 for 136, while Fidel Concepcion fought back with a 68 for 137. Angelo Que mounted a strong comeback with a 66 to join Guido van der Valk, Reymon Jaraula and Keanu Jahns, who matched 67s, amateur Jacob Rolida (71) and Russell Bautista (72) in a crowded group at 139, setting the stage for a wide-open fight for the crown.
For Song, the surge marked a timely response to the double bogey on the par-5 18th that marred his opening-round effort Tuesday. Despite making seven birdies, the costly miscue denied him the solo lead and allowed Manotoc and Kashihara Hirotaka to seize a share of the top spot with matching 66s.
Song wasted little time making amends.
Starting on the back nine, he eagled the par-5 12th before stringing together three consecutive birdies from No. 15 to ignite his second-round charge. He pulled level with Ramos at 10-under before adding clutch birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 to close out his round at 12-under and take command.
“I don’t think about the lead. I just play my game,” said Song, a former Philippine Golf Tour Q-School topnotcher, in halting English. “I just hit it safely off the tee and hit my irons onto the greens. I took advantage of some birdie opportunities and made my pars, avoiding bogeys.”
Asked about his plans for the final 36 holes as the pressure mounts, the 36-year-old veteran remained unfazed.
“No pressure. I don’t think about that. I just focus on my game,” he added.
His steady showing has been a hallmark of his campaign, having made the cut in all eight legs of the current PGT season. A tie for eighth at Pinewoods remains his best finish, but his latest performance has put him in position to break through for a bigger result.
Manotoc, meanwhile, continued to build on his impressive start, extending his bogey-free run to 36 holes. After opening with a share of the lead, he maintained his momentum despite a frontside 34, then picked up three birdies on the last nine holes to briefly seize the solo lead at 11-under before Song came in with his decisive finish.
“It was kind of similar, limiting my mistakes,” said Manotoc, describing his round as an improvement despite shooting one stroke higher than in the opening round.
“I think I played a little better today although I came a stroke short compared to yesterday. But two days, it’s pretty solid,” he said.
“For sure, this is the lowest I’ve gone for two rounds — not the best ball-striking, but the best score. I think putting really stands out,” he added.
The performance has bolstered Manotoc’s confidence, although he knows the challenge is far from over.
“It’s nice to score this good, for sure the confidence is there, but it’s a new day tomorrow. I’ll just continue what I’m doing,” he said, acknowledging that recovery and conversion were crucial to his round.
“I hit some bad shots, but I was able to recover. And when I have the opportunities, I was able to convert them,” he added.
Ramos also remained firmly in the hunt, displaying little sign of fatigue despite a demanding international schedule. Fresh from a breakthrough Asian Development Tour victory and a run of competitive appearances abroad, including on the Asian Tour in Macau last week, he delivered a bogey-free round to stay within striking distance of another PGT title.
The constant travel between tournaments has tested his stamina, Ramos admitted, but he has continued to manage the demands of competing across different countries and courses.
“The travel can be tiring, especially with the constant movement from one country to another, but I’m still managing,” he said.
Adjusting to varying green speeds has proved his biggest challenge, with each venue demanding a different touch on the putting surfaces.
“Getting used to the speed of the greens on each course is the most difficult part, but I’m learning to adapt and cope with the challenges,” he added.
With the wind again offering little resistance, players enjoyed favorable scoring conditions for the second straight day. That could change over the final 36 holes, however, as tougher pin placements and faster greens are expected to place a greater premium on precision, touch and patience.
Song has seized the momentum, but with Manotoc just one stroke behind and Ramos leading a determined chasing pack, the advantage remains precarious. The ninth leg of the PGT, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., is shaping up for a demanding finish in which composure could prove as decisive as shotmaking. (Pool story)
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