ILOILO, Philippines – Big-hitting Orlan Sumcad rebounded from a triple-bogey mishap on No. 2 with three birdies in the last six holes to fire a four-under 66 and grab a one-stroke lead over Angelo Que at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge here yesterday.
Sumcad, still chasing the big one in 12 years, actually pressed his bid early, hitting four birdies in a flawless start at the back of the par 36-34 Sta. Barbara layout only to reel back when he drove out-of-bounds on the second. But the Binitin native from Bacolod now based at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas fought back with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6 before making another on the final hole to wrest the lead back from Que.
The former three-time Asian Tour leg winner, who beat Sumcad at the latter’s turf to win the ICTSI Classic crown at Malarayat last year, birdied three of the last five holes to turn what had looked like another so-so stint into an inspiring start of 67 while rookie pro Clyde Mondilla put himself in early contention with a 68.
Jhonnel Ababa, who nipped Jay Bayron in a playoff to rule this leg last year and spark a three-leg victory run in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., outplayed fancied Juvic Pagunsan in the last flight, finishing with a bogey-free 69 to tie six others for fourth in a crowded leaderboard.
Other one-under scorers were Albin Engino, Randy Garalde, Kim Chang Hoi, Rey Pagunsan, Peter VIllaber and last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic winner Zanie Boy Gialon.
The 22-year-old Gialon, who edged Order of Merit frontrunner Tony Lascuna in a playoff to top the rain-shortened Bacolod leg of the event sponsored by ICTSI, birdied two of the first four holes at the back but bogeyed the par-5 14th before settling for pars the rest of the way.
Pagunsan, fresh from a breakthrough stint in the British Open, found the quaint Sta. Barbara layout not to his liking, turning in a birdie-less six-over 76 marred by a double-bogey on the 18th.
The reigning Asian Tour No. 1 and local OOM champion stood in 53rd place with seven others, including Artemio Murakami, and in danger of missing the 40-player cut in the 54-hole tournament.
Bayron mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys to lead the 70 scorers, who included two-leg winner Miguel Tabuena, Asian Tour campaigner Mars Pucay, Mhark Fernando, Edgar Ababa, Rufino Bayron and Ernie Rellon.
Lascuna, winner at Eagle Ridge and Manila Southwoods, wavered coming home at the front, limping with a bogey-riddled 38 and dropping to two-over 72 in a tie with Sherwood leg back-to-back winner Elmer Salvador, Michael Bibat, Benjie Magada and Danny Zarate.
Turning one-over 71 cards were Ferdie Aunzo, Charles Hong, Rene Menor, Joenard Rates, Gerald Rosales, Richard Sinfuego and Arnold Villacencio.
The other backers of the circuit are Sharp, Nike Golf, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno and Foot Joy with support from Event Captain, Inc., Omnisource Inti’l. TPGAP and media partners Balls, A Round of Golf, Inquirer Golf, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Impact.