Suzuki gains share of Splendido lead after late birdie
LAUREL, Batangas – Daiya Suzuki birdied the 18th hole, delivering an eagle-spiked 67 to catch Clyde Mondilla and Min Seong Kim at the helm at the start of the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship here Tuesday.
Mondilla and Kim had earlier endured last-hole mishaps on opposite nines to match five-under cards under preferred lies, enabling Suzuki to gain a share of the lead in what promises to be a wild, wide-open battle for glory in the $2-million championship marking the resumption of the Philippine Golf Tour after a five-week hiatus.
Aidric Chan rattled off six birdies after a bogey start, showcasing a stellar performance since topping the PGT Q-School. However, the former national team standout closed out with another bogey on the 18th to card a 68, slipping to joint second with Angelo Que and Tae Soo Kim, who both matched 32-36 nines.
Que, winner at the Philippine Masters, also marked his round with an eagle on No. 2, while Tae Soo Kim shot eight birdies, including four straight from the second, against four bogeys.
Building on the momentum of his pro-am victory on Monday, Tony Lascuña birdied seven of the first 11 holes in breezy conditions under varying skies. However, he faltered with three straight bogeys from No. 12 and though he recovered his composure with a birdie on the 15th, the four-time Order of Merit winner overshot the demanding par-3 17th and ended up with a double-bogey for a 69.
He dropped to joint seventh with Fidel Concepcion, who parred the last nine holes for a 33-36.
Late-hole struggles defined the chase for first-day honors in the event sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., which drew the country’s best, a slew of foreign aces, and numerous young guns ready to seize every opportunity presented by the rolling layout.
Mondilla played the seven-hole stretch from No. 5 in seven-under, highlighting his remarkable feat with four consecutive birdies starting at No. 7 and making an eagle on the par-5 11th.
Relying on his big drives, the Bukidnon native birdied three long holes and eagled the fourth, underscoring his readiness for a second win this year following an impressive triumph at Caliraya Springs.
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