Arbole grabs solo lead at ICTSI Negros Classic

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL — Fourteen years of waiting have brought Art Arbole to a position he has long chased — atop a Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard with a championship within reach.

Arbole took a major step toward ending his title drought Tuesday, firing a bogey-free 67 for a career-best 36-hole total and the solo lead halfway through the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

For the second straight day, the short but tricky layout yielded to Arbole’s steady all-around game.

More importantly, the performance gave the journeyman his first outright lead after two rounds as the tournament heads into the final 36 holes.

“This is the first time that I was able to lead in two days. My game continues to come together – driving, irons and putting,” said Arbole, his excitement evident as he moved closer to a long-awaited breakthrough.

“I just need to stay focused day-to-day. Basta mag-connect lang lahat,” added Arbole, who overcame a double bogey in the opening round with an eagle and five birdies to share the first-round lead with Jhonnel Ababa at 65.

With two rounds remaining, Arbole is refusing to look beyond the next shot.

“Hanggang Thursday na lang. Ulitin mo lang ’yung ginawa mo sa first two days,” he kept telling himself as motivation.

“Focus lang sa mga shots na hindi mag-trouble. I’ll do my very best in the last two days,” said Arbole, who missed three birdie putts but scrambled for four pars on the back nine.

“Mahirap talaga ang back nine ng Marapara,” added Arbole, who turned professional in 2012 and has a career-best top-five finish.

Arbole’s 8-under 132 put him one stroke ahead of Ababa, but the chasing pack remains close enough to make Wednesday’s third round a potential turning point.

“Kailangan dito steady ang driving mo,” said Ababa, who stayed within striking distance with a 68 despite another costly bogey on the par-5 18th.

Starting on No. 10, Ababa parred his first eight holes before dropping a stroke on No. 18 for the second straight day.

He recovered with three birdies on the front nine to finish at 133.

“’Yung back nine ko, hindi masyadong maganda dahil ilang greens lang tinamayan ko, tapos ’yung paborito kong hole – No. 18 – bogey na naman. Pero nakabawi naman sa front nine,” said Ababa.

Ababa rued a third shot that landed in a divot on No. 18 after a solid drive and second shot.

“Maganda naman yung drive ko at second shot sa No. 18, pero yung third shot tumama sa divot kaya na-bogey,” he said.

The former Order of Merit winner remains firmly in contention as he seeks another title after edging Guido van der Valk in a sudden-death playoff at Apo in 2024.

Only one stroke separates the top two, while Jeffren Lumbo lurks three shots behind Arbole at 135.

Lumbo erased the memory of a triple-bogey 8 on No. 18 that spoiled his opening-round 68 by firing another 67, highlighted by four consecutive birdies starting at No. 4.

He is tied with van der Valk, who also carded a 3-under 67 on another scorching day.

Lumbo is chasing a second PGT title after breaking through at South Pacific last year, while van der Valk is also seeking to end a lengthy title drought.

Albin Engino posted a second straight 68 to move into solo fifth at 136.

Clyde Mondilla also shot a 68 to join Randy Garalde, who carded a 69; Russell Bautista, defending two-time champion Rupert Zaragosa, who both shot 70s; and Josh Jorge, who had a 71, in a tie for sixth at 138.

The tour’s biggest names survived the cut and advanced to the final 36 holes of the PHP 2.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., but they will need strong third rounds to close the gap on the leaders.

Aidric Chan shot a 69 but remained tied for 17th at 141 with Tony Lascuña, who slipped to a 72, Ira Alido, who shot 70, and Edmar Salvador Jr., who also carded a 70.

Caliraya Springs and Summit Point leg winner Angelo Que rebounded from a 73 with a 69 to join Erwin Madrileño, who shot 70, Jobim Carlos, who had a 72, and Jay Bayron, who carded a 75, in a tie for 21st at 142.

Eight players made the cut on the number at 145: Rico Depilo, 71; Kim Tae Soo, 72; Jeremy Tandoy, 72; Ramil Bisera, 73; Boni Salahog, 73; Gab Manotoc, 74; Francis Morilla, 75; and Kristoffer Arevalo, 76.

For Arbole, however, the two numbers that matter most are 132 and 14.

The first is his halfway score, while the second represents the number of years he has spent chasing his first PGT title.

With two rounds remaining, the championship that has long stayed beyond his reach is now firmly within sight.