Aussie grabs lead as Keanu Jahns wavers

BACOLOD, Philippines — Tim Stewart of Australia marked his return to the Philippine Golf Tour in smashing fashion, shooting a four-under 66 then pouncing on fellow big-hitting Keanu Jahns’ late-hole miscues to wrest a one-stroke lead at the start of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the par-70 Iloilo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Back in the circuit after finishing fourth at PGT Asia Southwoods last June, Stewart leaned on his hot putter to produce seven birdies that negated a double-bogey and bogey on Nos. 3 and 13, respectively. But the 33-year-old winner of the recent Tahiti Open had to watch Jahns waver in the last two holes at the front to snatch the lead in the early going of the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI.

“I putted well at the back side and hopefully, I’ll do better tomorrow (today),” said Stewart, who also placed fifth at PGTA Luisita and tied for 25th at PGTA Riviera.

Jahns came away with two pitch-in eagle feats on par-4 holes, the first spiking his big opening charge on No. 11 and the other on No. 6 that put him on top of the 71-player starting field at five-under. But the Fil-German shotmaker, one of the rising young guns in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., three-putted No. 8 and missed the last green, enabling Stewart to seize control.

“I got confused with the speed of the greens. My putts were way off in the last two holes, both going past the cup,” rued Jahns, who also shot four birdies against three bogeys at the back.

He settled for a 67 and dropped to joint second with PGT Asia Forest Hills leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, Elmer Salvador and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, while Jay Bayron, Clyde Mondilla, Erwin Arcillas, Dino Villanueva and Ramil Bisera turned in identical 68s to make it a crowded leaderboard in the third of four tournaments making up the Visayan swing of this year’s tour.

“I’m good and I think I have a chance here,” said Mondilla, the reigning PGT Order of Merit winner out to snap a long slump in the circuit. He dominated with four victories last year.

“The course is not as easy as it looks, given the unpredictable greens,” said Salvador, winner of Tuesday’s pro-am tournament of the event backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.

Jobim Carlos, whose two victories in the last six tournaments have made him the target of the other bidders in the P3 million event, hobbled with a two-over 72 and slipped to joint 30th with eight others, including fellow pre-tournament favorite Kim Joo Hyung of Korea.