Bibat fires 65 to seize Del Monte lead

BUKIDNON — Michael Bibat, seeking redemption after a stretch of underwhelming finishes, delivered a blistering 65 to grab the opening-round lead at the ICTSI Del Monte Championship on Tuesday, upstaging a fast-starting Elee Bisera and a record-breaking Taewon Ha at the tight, tree-lined Del Monte Golf Club.

Bibat, who has been largely off the radar since his last win at Eagle Ridge in 2022, finally showcased the form that once made him an Asian Games bronze medalist with a bogey-free round in hot and humid conditions at this mountain-top course.

“I didn’t expect to shoot this low, pero naging maingat lang kaya walang bogey,” said Bibat, who stitched a spotless 31-34 built on precision off the tee, sharp iron play, and confident putting.

“The goal was to lessen the mistakes — hit the fairways and greens — then be aggressive with the putter,” he said, adding, “I gave myself so many chances to make birdies.”

Despite emerging as the early frontrunner in this PHP 3,500,000 event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., Bibat kept expectations in check, saying, “Just don’t get ahead of myself in the next three rounds.”

Starting on No. 10, he picked up two early birdies before catching fire on the front with birdies on No. 1 and three straight from No. 4, then capped his day by taming the par-5 ninth for another birdie to edge Bisera by one.

Bisera nearly matched Bibat’s brilliance, birdieing three of his last five holes for a 66 that briefly tied the lead until Bibat’s closing birdie pushed him ahead.

“My target was to shoot even-par, but everything just clicked — from driving to my short game — and my putting was especially on point,” said the Davaoeño, who rode receptive greens to create multiple birdie looks.

Starting on the first hole, Bisera strung pars before igniting with four straight birdies from No. 8, dropped a shot on 13 after an errant drive, then rebounded with birdies on Nos. 14, 16, and 18 to stay firmly in early contention.

Ha threatened to steal the show with a jaw-dropping 29 at the back nine where he teed off, setting a new tournament nine-hole record with five birdies and an eagle to eclipse the previous 31 by Clyde Mondilla during his first-round 64 en route to the 2023 title.

The Incheon native cooled on the front, however, bogeying Nos. 3 and 5 to settle for a 67 and a share of third with Ryan Monsalve and compatriot Chon Koo Kang.

“I had a feeling I would play well because I hit my best score just recently,” said Ha, referring to a nine-under practice round at Pradera Verde where he regularly trains, adding, “Today, my putting was better than usual — that’s why I shot a 29 on the back nine.”

“The front nine was tougher, and my putter didn’t hold up,” he said after stumbling with two bogeys and no birdies coming home.

Monsalve shook off an early stumble to post one of his most explosive Tour starts with a 34-33, rebounding from a bogey on the par-4 second with six birdies in his last 13 holes by capitalizing on all four par-5s and tacking on two more on short par-4s.

“After that bogey on No. 2, I just focused on taking advantage of the scorable holes and birdied Nos. 6, 9, 14, and 18 — all par-5s,” said Monsalve, citing a clutch par save on the par-4 10th and a solid tee shot on the demanding par-3 12th as momentum keys.

Kang also fought back from adversity, erasing a bogey-double bogey slide on Nos. 12 and 13 with three birdies over his last five after sparking his round with five early birdies to salvage a 67 and join Ha and Monsalve at third.

Two-leg winner Keanu Jahns looked out of sync early with one birdie against two bogeys after 14 holes before detonating with back-to-back eagles on Nos. 6 and 9, with a birdie in between, to vault into a tie for sixth at 68.

Sharing that spot are veterans Jay Bayron and Jhonnel Ababa, homegrown ace Reymon Jaraula, and recent Negros Occidental champion Rupert Zaragosa, who rebounded from a bogey on No. 1 with five birdies over his last 11.

With just three shots separating the top 10 — and 10 more lurking at 69 — the chase remains wide open heading into the second round.

Among those at three under are Del Monte icon Frankie Miñoza, Ramil Bisera, Francis Morilla, Mars Pucay, Fidel Concepcion, Arnold Villacencio, Dino Villanueva, Kuresh Samadoni, American Collin Wheeler, and Japan’s Yudai Nakakuki, all poised to pounce.