Ababa, Arbole share Negros Classic lead after 65s

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL — Jhonnel Ababa overcame a costly closing-hole bogey to fire a five-under-par 65 and share the opening-round lead with Art Arbole as the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic got off to a tightly contested start Monday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Ababa appeared headed for an even stronger finish before a wayward drive on the closing par-5 18th put him in trouble. The mistake eventually led to a bogey, denying the former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner the chance to complete a near-flawless round, but his 65 still left him firmly in contention with three rounds remaining.

The strong start carried added significance for the Davaoeño veteran, who has been trying to rediscover the consistency that once made him one of the circuit’s most dependable winners. He is doing so in a Philippine professional golf scene that has become increasingly competitive, with rising young players and seasoned campaigners continually testing the tour’s established names.

“Focus lang sa laro at sa mga anak ko, at enjoy lang sa paglalaro kahit may pinagdadaanan,” said Ababa, who chose not to elaborate.

His performance continued a steady recovery from a difficult beginning to the season. After missing the cut in the season-opening leg at Lakewood, Ababa posted Top 10 finishes in three of the next four legs, highlighted by a joint sixth-place effort at Pradera Verde, before arriving in Negros fresh from another joint 10th-place finish at Summit Point two weeks ago.

Ababa carried that improving form into Monday’s round, opening with birdies on his first two holes and adding three more on the front nine. His scoring slowed after the turn, where he managed only one birdie on No. 14 before giving that stroke back with the bogey at the last.

The transition from the wide-open layout at Summit Point to the shorter but tighter Marapara course demanded a different approach, particularly off the tee and with the irons, and Ababa said accuracy was essential.

“Kailangan lang sa driving dito diretso at accurate, tsaka yung irons. Yun lang ang in-adjust ko dito,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of knowing when to attack and when to play conservatively on a course where mistakes can quickly become costly.

“May mga holes na puwede mong atakihin at meron din naman na dapat lay-up lang, course management ang kailangan din dito,” Ababa added.

His closing-hole trouble served as a reminder of that challenge.

“Tumagos ang drive ko sa No. 17 at yung second shot ko tumama sa puno kaya na-bogey,” he said, referring to the sequence that resulted in his late dropped shot.

While Ababa’s round was built largely on control before the late lapse, Arbole reached the same five-under total through a combination of recovery, aggression and timely breaks. He produced the day’s first 65 with a 32-33 card highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 No. 4.

“This is a friendly course and it’s in good condition, especially the greens. Medyo swerte din kasi nag-connect ang driving, second shots at putting ko, kaya naka-score ng 65,” Arbole said.

Arbole’s round hardly began smoothly. After a birdie on the opening hole, he stumbled with a double bogey on No. 3, only to respond immediately with an eagle-2 on the 374-yard fourth after using the wind to drive the ball to within five feet of the cup and converting the putt.

That recovery sparked the rest of his round, as Arbole added birdies on Nos. 5, 8, 10 and 17 to finish alongside Ababa at the top of the leaderboard. Still seeking the first victory of his 14-year career, he suddenly found himself in an ideal position after 18 holes, though the tightly packed field offered little room for complacency.

Jay Bayron, Josh Jorge and Elee Bisera remained within striking distance after opening with identical 67s, just two strokes behind the co-leaders.

Jeffren Lumbo also threatened to join the lead after a blistering start in which he collected six birdies in his first 10 holes, including three pairs of back-to-back birdies beginning on Nos. 1, 5 and 9.

Lumbo, who won the South Pacific leg for his maiden PGT title in a dramatic five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista, faltered late. A bogey on No. 15 was followed by a costly double bogey on the closing hole, dropping him to a 68 and into a six-way tie for sixth with Albin Engino, Ryan Monsalve, Guido van der Valk, Bautista and Rupert Zaragosa.

Van der Valk supplied one of the day’s highlights when he aced the 178-yard par-3 13th using a 6-iron and a Srixon No. 4 ball. The hole-in-one was the ninth of the Dutchman’s career and earned him PHP 10,000 from the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Zaragosa, meanwhile, kept alive his bid for a piece of history after carding four birdies against two bogeys for a 68. Chasing a record third consecutive victory at Marapara, he remained close enough to the leaders to keep that unprecedented target within reach.

Tony Lascuna, Kristoffer Arevalo, Randy Garalde and Francis Mendez followed with identical 69s, while Clyde Mondilla, Jobim Carlos, Carlos Packing, Miki Ryoma and Francis Morilla opened with even-par 70s.

With so little separating the early contenders, the sixth leg of the 10-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. has quickly developed into a wide-open contest in which one productive stretch — or a single costly mistake — could significantly alter the leaderboard.

Reigning Order of Merit winner Angelo Que experienced that volatility firsthand after arriving from a Taiwan stint over the weekend. He appeared to be battling fatigue after bogeying his first two holes but responded with birdies on three of the next four to suggest another charge was developing.

The momentum did not hold, however, as Que bogeyed No. 7 before dropping shots on three consecutive holes — Nos. 13, 14 and 15 — and settling for a 73 and a share of 35th place.

With Ababa and Arbole setting the early pace and a deep group of challengers within a few strokes, the next three rounds are shaping up as a test of who can best balance aggression with course management on Marapara’s tight layout when both the pressure and the leaderboard begin to build.