Mondilla shoots 64, takes lead at ICTSI South Pacific Classic

DAVAO CITY – Clyde Mondilla fired an eight-under-par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Thursday, Oct. 22, putting himself in position to end a Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) title drought dating to 2024.

The veteran campaigner overcame a four-shot deficit with a blistering start and a 10-birdie performance under preferred lies, moving atop the leaderboard at 16-under 200 after 54 holes.

But Mondilla knows that taking the lead is only half the battle, particularly after a costly final-round collapse at Pueblo de Oro just days earlier.

“I’ve been working on my iron and wedge play this week, making a few adjustments to fix the mistakes I made at Pueblo,” said Mondilla in Filipino.

The Bukidnon native, one of the PGT’s most accomplished players, last won at Caliraya Springs in 2024, defeating Angelo Que by three strokes.

He opened Thursday’s round with four consecutive birdies, quickly erased his overnight deficit and eventually overtook halfway leader Lee Song of South Korea.

Mondilla’s surge brought back memories of his performance at Pueblo de Oro, where a spectacular third-round charge put him in contention for the championship before a closing 73 dropped him to fourth place.

This time, he hopes the adjustments to his short game and the lessons from that setback will produce a different result.

Song remained his closest challenger after shooting a three-under 69 for a 201 total, just one stroke behind Mondilla.

The Korean, who topped the PGT Qualifying School in 2023, is chasing his first title on the professional circuit after opening the tournament with rounds of 67 and 65.

“It was a good round, although I made a lot of mistakes. Still, I managed to save par on a few holes,” said Song.

Despite surrendering the lead, Song said he would maintain his approach entering the final 18 holes.

“It’s the same mindset. I’ll just play for par, hit the fairways and greens, and take advantage of any birdie opportunities that come my way,” he added.

Sean Ramos stayed within striking distance in solo third at 203 after matching Song’s 69.

Ramos, who moved into contention with a second-round 66, recovered from an opening bogey by making three birdies over the next six holes.

His momentum slowed with a string of pars before a birdie on the 17th helped him secure third place, three strokes behind Mondilla.

Gab Manotoc, meanwhile, slipped to fourth at 206 after struggling to a one-over 73 following impressive opening rounds of 66 and 67.

After completing the front nine in 35, Manotoc stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 12, 14 and 15 before birdying the 16th for the third consecutive round.

The uneven performance disrupted his bid for a maiden PGT victory after two rounds of bogey-free golf had put him among the early contenders.

“Putter was cold today and the three bogeys came from mental errors. I have to clean that up and try to post a number tomorrow,” said Manotoc.

For Mondilla, Thursday’s performance marked another encouraging step in his comeback after spending time away from competitive golf to attend to farm work in Bukidnon.

He returned to the circuit in Negros Occidental last month, finishing tied for eighth before placing fourth in Iloilo.

He also emerged as a contender at Pueblo de Oro but failed to sustain his third-round momentum during the final 18 holes.

Rather than dwell on those missed opportunities, Mondilla has focused on correcting the weaknesses that undermined his recent title bids.

“My confidence is back, so hopefully, I can get the win,” he said.

His improved iron and wedge play was evident Thursday as he hit every fairway and repeatedly positioned himself for makeable birdie putts.

Several approach shots settled within eight feet of the hole, helping him produce four consecutive birdies to start the round.

Mondilla eventually collected 10 birdies, showcasing the precision and scoring ability that made him one of the tour’s most formidable players.

Two three-putt bogeys on Nos. 13 and 16, however, prevented him from building a larger advantage.

The mistake on the par-4 16th proved particularly frustrating after he unleashed a 380-yard drive that left him just 80 yards from the pin.

His approach came up short, and he needed three putts from 20 yards to complete the hole with a bogey.

Mondilla quickly recovered, birdying the final two holes to finish with a 64 and claim the outright lead.

With one round remaining, he plans to stick to the adjustments that have restored his confidence rather than make major changes to his strategy.

“I won’t put pressure on myself. I’ll just enjoy and try to shoot low,” said Mondilla.

The strong performance also rekindled memories of his breakthrough 2017 season, when he captured three titles and claimed the PGT Order of Merit crown.

“I feel good after a long break while doing farm work in Bukidnon,” he said.

Song, meanwhile, kept the pressure on Mondilla throughout the third round with three birdies over his first 10 holes.

He recovered from a bogey on No. 11 with another birdie on the 15th, briefly staying level with Mondilla at 15 under.

But Song, playing in the group behind the Filipino, could not match Mondilla’s closing birdies and settled for second place.

Russell Bautista and Angelo Que both carded 68s to share fifth at 207, seven strokes off the lead.

Dino Villanueva posted a 69 for a 209 total, putting him in seventh place.

Ira Alido produced one of the day’s strongest performances with a bogey-free 66 to climb into a four-way tie for eighth at 210.

Alido joined Elee Bisera, Eric Gallardo and Keanu Jahns, who returned rounds of 67, 70 and 71, respectively.

The PHP 2.5 million ICTSI South Pacific Classic is the penultimate leg of the 10-stage Philippine Golf Tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

The tournament offers Mondilla an opportunity to secure his first victory in two years while strengthening his comeback after a lengthy break from competition.

Song remains close enough to challenge for a breakthrough title, while Ramos and the chasing pack could capitalize on any mistakes by the leaders.

Mondilla, however, controls his own fate after producing the tournament’s most impressive third-round charge.

His immediate challenge is to avoid a repeat of Pueblo de Oro, where a promising title opportunity disappeared over the final 18 holes.

After three rounds of steady improvement and a spectacular 64, Mondilla has given himself another chance to turn a strong position into a championship.

This time, finishing the job matters more than the charge that brought him there.