Riviera Classic too close to call

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — A scramble of a start looms as the finest men of the Philippine Golf Tour resume their title hunt in the P2.5 million ICTSI Riviera Classic at the Langer course today, all hungry and eager to slug it out coming off a long break.

The circuit took a six-week lull after Juvic Pagunsan swept the last three legs of the four-stage Visayan swing last June to give way for the PGT Asia stop at Manila Southwoods which Angelo Que ruled last month, and the Ladies PGT, making the pros keen on putting up a strong start in the P2.5 million championship serving as the sixth leg of the 10th season of the PGT.

But what lies ahead could be four days of uncertainty and unpredictability given the par-71 layout’s reputation as one of the toughest with rain the past few days softening up the course, thus making it longer, more daunting and challenging, although some hinted at good scoring in this kind of conditions.

“I think it’s easier to play this course in wet conditions than on hardened fairways when you can’t control your shots,” said Jhonnel Ababa, the winningest player on PGT Asia with four victories, during a break in yesterday’s pro-am marred by intermittent showers.

No player has won here twice the last four years with Jay Bayron nipping Clyde Mondilla in sudden death when Riviera last played host to a PGT event in 2016.

Mondilla bounced back from that setback by winning in 2017 as Riviera hosted one of the five stops of the inaugural PGT Asia. Then Jobim Carlos reigned in 2018 before Pagunsan dominated the field last March.

Now back as a PGT leg, a new name could emerge on top on Saturday with Que looming large following his emphatic victory at Southwoods where he beat Aussie Tim Stewart in a power duel and won by five.

But at Riviera, it’s not just a question of length but of strategies, including course management since a slight miscue could lead to a big score given the limited options for recovery at the hazard-laden layout.