Mondilla rides South Pacific breakthrough into Apo, eyes bigger conquests
MANILA, Philippines – Clyde Mondilla is back in the winner’s circle, and he intends to make the most of his return.
Fresh from ending a two-year title drought with a hard-earned victory at South Pacific Golf Club, Mondilla heads to the final leg of the Philippine Golf Tour at Apo Golf and Country Club starting Tuesday (Oct. 27) with renewed confidence, a sharper game and ambitions that extend well beyond the local circuit.
His South Pacific triumph was more than just a long-awaited return to the winner’s column. It was a test of nerve against a five-man chase, a demonstration of his ability to deliver under pressure and, perhaps most importantly, a timely reminder that he remains a force to reckon with as he sets his sights on bigger international challenges.
For Mondilla, the victory has already delivered its biggest immediate reward: the confidence to compete and win again.
“Winning this tournament means a lot to me because I’m back in the winner’s circle, and my confidence has gone up,” said Mondilla in Filipino, who ended his title drought the hard way, holding off a crowded field of challengers in a gripping final-round battle on Friday.
The 32-year-old Del Monte ace showed precisely why the breakthrough could prove pivotal. With Sean Ramos matching him shot for shot and Angelo Que, Keanu Jahns and Korean Lee Song lurking in the chase, Mondilla kept his composure when the pressure peaked.
He then birdied two of the final four holes to break away from Ramos and seal a two-shot victory, turning a tense, tightly contested finish into a statement win.
It was the kind of closing stretch that could serve him well at Apo, where the Tour’s season-ending test will demand both precision and sound decision-making.
Having survived the pressure cooker at South Pacific, Mondilla believes he is ready for another demanding week.
Reflecting on how he handled the closing stretch, he said he was pleased with his composure and was eager to carry that momentum into the next event.
“I handled the pressure pretty well, so I think I’m ready for another tournament next week at Apo,” he said.
Mondilla missed last year’s Apo Golf Classic, where Fidel Concepcion broke through for his maiden PGT victory in a playoff against Korean Jaehyun Jung. But the Apo layout is hardly unfamiliar territory for the former Philippine Open champion, who has played the course several times throughout his career.
His previous campaign there, however, yielded little to celebrate, as he finished tied for 25th in the 2024 edition.
This time, he arrives with a different mindset and a timely boost in form after rediscovering the winning touch that once made him one of the Tour’s most formidable players.
Mondilla dominated four legs of the PGT in 2017 to claim the Order of Merit crown and captured the Philippine Open title in 2019. His latest victory suggests that the seasoned campaigner, long regarded as one of the Tour’s longest hitters, may once again be ready to contend consistently.
The turnaround, he explained, has come through hard work and a renewed commitment to the finer points of his game.
After stepping away from the rigors of competition for a period and spending time tending to farm work at home, Mondilla buckled down to serious practice, making key adjustments to his iron and wedge play. Those refinements have helped him complement his length off the tee with the precision needed to close out tournaments.
But his comeback has not been a solo effort. Behind the renewed focus and improved form is a family that has continued to push him forward, along with a close friend who helped him rediscover his passion for the game.
Mondilla was quick to acknowledge the people who stood by him and encouraged him to work his way back.
“May has been pushing me to practice and make up for lost ground. My two daughters are my inspiration, as are my mother and father,” he said, referring to his wife, May, and their children. “I also have my friend PJ Dela Torre, with whom I share a deep bond. He was one of the people who helped bring me back to the game.” The challenge at Apo, however, is unlikely to offer much breathing room. Ramos, Jahns, Que and Song are expected to remain among the leading threats, eager to make amends after coming up short at South Pacific and prevent Mondilla from building further momentum.
The course itself presents another formidable obstacle. Apo’s risk-and-reward character places a premium on disciplined course management, accurate iron play, a dependable short game and steady putting. Power can create opportunities, but poor decisions can quickly erase any advantage.
For Mondilla, the formula for sustaining his resurgence is straightforward: keep practicing, but never lose sight of the enjoyment that makes the game worthwhile.
He stressed that relentless effort alone is not enough if a player loses the pleasure of competing.
“Just keep practicing, and, most importantly, enjoy the game,” he said. “You can keep trying and working hard, but if you’re not enjoying golf, it won’t do you any good. You have to enjoy being out on the course, enjoy playing and appreciate the game. That’s what matters. When you do that, winning becomes easier.” And while another title at Apo would be a fitting follow-up to his South Pacific breakthrough, Mondilla is looking beyond the immediate prize. He hopes to use his renewed form as a springboard toward the country’s premier championship and, eventually, a shot at establishing himself on the Asian Tour.
Looking ahead to the bigger tests on his calendar, he said the victory had given his preparations a significant lift.
“This win is a big boost to my preparations for the Philippine Open in November, and eventually, I want to compete in the Asian Tour Q-School,” he said.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on Apo. TMT
