Zaragosa takes command with 65

ILOILO, Philippines — Rupert Zaragosa emerged as the only player from among the top guns to go low at the start of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge presented by MORE Power, firing a five-under 65 to seize a one-stroke lead over Ferdie Aunzo at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Zaragosa scorched the backside of the short but demanding par-70 layout with five birdies to make up for a shaky start of two bogeys in the first three holes. He also dropped two strokes on the par-3 No. 5 but gunned down birdies on Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 9 to draw level at the turn.

Sustaining his 280-yard driving norm, he also waxed hot with his putter in the last nine holes and got past a mix of unfancied rivals to snatch first-day honors in the P2.25 million tournament capping the two-leg Visayan swing of the Philippine Golf Tour.

“I played good at Marapara so it boosted my confidence coming over here,” said Zaragosa, who closed out with a 68 to tie for second with Tony Lascuña in last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Classic ruled by Ira Alido in come-from-behind fashion.

Zaragosa is in pursuit of a breakthrough victory after finishing tied for second at Pradera Verde in 2020.

Aunzo took solo second at 66 while Elee Bisera and Reymon Jaraula bounced back from so-so showing at Marapara with a pair of 67s.

Richard Sinfuego carded a 68 for solo fifth while Dino Villanueva and Paul Echavez matched 69s as the lesser lights made quite an impact in a day of floundering fortunes for majority of the fancied bets.