Ababa, Arbole battle back to form, share Negros Classic lead with 65s
MANILA, Philippines – Jhonnel Ababa weathered a late stumble to fire a five-under 65 and share the opening-round lead with Art Artbole as the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic got off to a frenetic start Monday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Negros Occidental.
Ababa had looked poised for an even more spectacular finish until his wayward drive on the closing par-5 18th put him in trouble. The ensuing miscue led to a bogey, denying the former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner a chance to cap a near-flawless round.
Still, the 65 put the Davaoeño ace squarely in contention in a tournament that immediately produced a packed leaderboard and set the stage for what could be a tight and unpredictable finish over the next three rounds.
For Ababa, however, the numbers on the leaderboard were only part of the story.
He is trying to rediscover the form that once made him one of the circuit’s most consistent winners while adjusting to an increasingly competitive Philippine professional golf landscape, where rising young players and seasoned campaigners continue to push the established names.
“Focus lang sa laro at sa mga anak ko, at enjoy lang sa paglalaro kahit may pinagdadaanan,” said Ababa, who chose not to elaborate.
What he did on the course, though, spoke loudly enough.
After missing the cut in the season-opening leg at Lakewood, Ababa steadily worked his way back into contention, posting Top 10 finishes in three of the next four legs, including a joint sixth-place effort at Pradera Verde. He arrived here fresh from another joint 10th-place finish at Summit Point two weeks ago, gradually rebuilding the confidence that had eluded him early in the season.
He wasted little time making his move Monday, birdieing his first two holes before adding three more birdies on the front nine for a sizzling start.
The momentum cooled on the inward nine, where he managed just one birdie on No. 14 before giving that stroke back with the closing bogey.
Even so, the 65 was enough to put him at the top of a leaderboard that quickly became crowded.
The adjustment from the wide-open layout at Summit Point to the shorter but tighter Marapara course was crucial, and Ababa said accuracy off the tee and with the irons became a premium.
“Kailangan lang sa driving dito diretso at accurate, tsaka yung irons. Yun lang ang in-adjust ko dito,” he said.
The course also demanded restraint.
“May mga holes na puwede mong atakihin at meron din naman na dapat lay-up lang, course management ang kailangan din dito,” Ababa added.
His final-hole adventure provided a costly reminder.
“Tumagos ang drive ko sa No. 17 at yung second shot ko tumama sa puno kaya na-bogey,” he said, referring to the hole that played as the closing par-5 No. 18.
If Ababa's round was defined by control before a late lapse, Arbole's five-under card was a combination of recovery, aggression and a timely dose of fortune.
Arbole produced the day’s first 65, anchored by an eagle on the par-4 No. 4 that sparked a superb 32-33 round.
“This is a friendly course and it’s in good condition, especially the greens. Medyo swerte din kasi nag-connect ang driving, second shots at putting ko, kaya naka-score ng 65,” he said.
The round hardly began smoothly.
Arbole birdied the opening hole but stumbled with a double bogey on No. 3. Rather than letting the setback derail him, he responded immediately with an eagle-2 on the 374-yard fourth, launching his drive with the wind to within five feet of the hole before calmly converting the opportunity.
He carried that surge through the rest of the round, adding birdies on Nos. 5, 8, 10 and 17 to emerge as Ababa’s co-leader.
Still searching for the first victory of his 14-year career, Arbole suddenly found himself in an ideal position after 18 holes, although the crowded leaderboard offered little room for complacency.
Jay Bayron, Josh Jorge and Elee Bisera were just two strokes behind with identical 67s, while Jeffren Lumbo came agonizingly close to joining the leaders – or even taking sole possession of the top spot – before a late collapse.
Lumbo appeared ready to seize control after six birdies in his first 10 holes, including three pairs of back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1, 5 and 9.
But the South Pacific leg winner, who captured his maiden PGT title in a dramatic five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista, stumbled late. A bogey on No. 15 was followed by a costly double bogey on the closing hole, dropping him to 68 and into a six-way tie for sixth with Albin Engino, Ryan Monsalve, Guido van der Valk, Bautista and Rupert Zaragosa.
Van der Valk delivered one of the day's highlights, acing the 178-yard par-3 13th with a 6-iron and a Srixon No. 4 ball. It was the Dutchman’s ninth hole-in-one of his career, earning him P10,000 from the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
Zaragosa, meanwhile, kept his bid for a piece of history alive.
Seeking a record third consecutive victory at Marapara, Zaragosa fired four birdies against two bogeys for a 68, keeping himself within striking distance of the leaders and ensuring that his unprecedented target remains very much in play.
Tony Lascuna, Kristoffer Arevalo, Randy Garalde and Francis Mendez carded identical 69s, while Clyde Mondilla, Jobim Carlos, Carlos Packing, Miki Ryoma and Francis Morilla opened with even-par 70s.
With so little separating the early contenders, the sixth leg of the 10-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is already shaping up as a wide-open battle, where a single hot stretch – or one costly mistake – could dramatically reshape the leaderboard.
Even reigning Order of Merit winner Angelo Que found that out the hard way.
Coming off a Taiwan stint over the weekend, Que appeared to be battling fatigue after bogeying his first two holes. But the seasoned champion quickly responded, birdieing three of the next four holes to suggest that another charge was in the making.
Instead, his rhythm deserted him.
Que bogeyed No. 7 before dropping shots on three consecutive holes – Nos. 13, 14 and 15 – and settled for a 73 and share of 35th.
But if Monday was any indication, the next three rounds could come down to who manages the tight Marapara layout best when the pressure – and the leaderboard – gets heavier.
