Concepcion grabs early lead with scorching 64

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ILOILO – Fidel Concepcion made a bold statement in his pursuit of a breakthrough victory on the Philippine Golf Tour, carding an impressive six-under 64 to secure a one-stroke lead over Guido van der Valk in the opening round of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge here on Tuesday.

Benefiting from an early morning start and the lift, clean, and place rule due to soggy fairways from recent rains, Concepcion launched his title campaign in style at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club. Coming off a missed cut in the last PGT leg at Forest Hills, Concepcion rebounded by birdying three of his first eight holes.

Despite a setback on the ninth, he rallied with four more birdies on the back nine to cap a near-perfect 34-30 round.

“I took a break after missing the cut at Forest Hills. I went back to basics, tried to brush it off, and move forward,” said Concepcion, who also praised the well-maintained surface of the tight but tricky par-70 layout, which was built in 1907. “I putted really well, and the greens are excellent. You can’t complain much about a 64.”

While Concepcion was pleased with his strong start, he remains grounded, knowing the challenges that lie ahead.

“This is my best start, but there’s a lot of golf left to play. I’ve been in this situation before, and I hope to hang on this time and do a little better,” he said.

Van der Valk, who posted a 65, birdied four of the first seven holes then bounced back from two bogeys with a trio of birdies from the 13th to finish in solo second, while Ira Alido carded a 66 to take third, highlighting his back-nine surge with three birdies.

“I started really good, and hit some great shots, but it sort of fell apart a little bit midway through. Thankfully, I made three birdies in a row at the back which got me back into a good mindset,” said van der Valk, emphasizing the mental strength required to navigate the course in the coming rounds.

“It’s an old-style course, but very challenging. Mentally, I need to be strong because anything can happen. The course is playing a little soft, making it a bit easier, but let’s see what the next three days will bring,” he added.

Alido credited his superb approach shots for his strong start.

“I hit a lot of greens, and they were perfect enough to set me up for birdies. I missed a few chances, but my approach game gave me plenty of opportunities,” he said.

Defending champion Rupert Zaragosa and veterans Tony Lascuña and Reymon Jaraula are among those tied at fourth with rounds of 67.

The course’s narrow fairways and small greens continued to pose significant challenges, but the players adapted well. Concepcion’s late birdie barrage, combined with precision shot-making, gave him the edge, but he knows the fight for top honors in the P2.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is far from over.

Reigning Philippine Masters champion Angelo Que, meanwhile, saw his three-under card slip with consecutive bogeys on holes 13 and 14, but a birdie on the 17th rescued a 68, giving him solo seventh.

A group of 10 players, including Art Arbole, Albin Engino, Zanieboy Gialon, Nelson Huerva, Kim Tae Won, Jeffrey Pito-on, Hyun Ho Rho, Ivan Monsalve and local aces Godofredo Sinfuego and Richard Sinfuego, all finished at 69, making it a crowded leaderboard after Day 1 of this third-to-last 72-hole championship on the Philippine Golf Tour calendar.

The 6,055-yard Iloilo course, the oldest in the country, is known for its tight fairways and small, undulating greens, demanding precision over power. Many seasoned players, including van der Valk and Alido, emphasized a strategic approach in tackling the tricky layout.

Concepcion appeared to have found his rhythm, using course management and a steady short game to his advantage. He highlighted his round with four birdies, but he showed resilience after bogeying the ninth, rebounding with two birdies on the back nine, including birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to push ahead.

Several contenders, including aggressive players known for their power, adapted their style to suit the tightness of the layout. Many opted for long irons instead of drivers, focusing on accuracy over distance. Despite the conservative approach, they remained cautiously aggressive, especially on the back nine, to keep pace with the leaders.