Underdogs shine in ICTSI Bacolod golf tourney opener

MURCIA, Negros Occidental – Albin Engino and South Korea's Hyun Ho Rho stunned the field with impressive 65s despite contrasting approaches to secure joint leadership in the rain-disrupted opening round of the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club here on Tuesday.

Engino, a journeyman still chasing a breakthrough after more than a decade on the Philippine Golf Tour, delivered a powerful back-nine performance. His round, punctuated by consecutive birdies inside 12 feet, saw him card a 34-31 for a five-under-par round at the tight par-70 layout. His steady play earned him a share of the lead with Rho, whose hot start earlier in the day set the pace.

Rho, who topped last year's Philippine Golf Tour Q-School, made a quick impact with four birdies, including a string of three from the third hole. Despite a lone bogey on the back nine, the young, aggressive Korean golfer maintained his momentum, adding two more birdies to tie Engino at the top of the P2.5 million championship presented by Negros Power and Electric Corp.

“I didn’t expect to lead since there are many strong players, but I did my best,” said Engino in Filipino, who had tied for 22nd place in the Iloilo Challenge just a week earlier. “My driving, iron play, and putting were all solid, so I just waited for the birdies to come.”

Rho, playing in his first-ever round at the tricky Bacolod layout, was pleased with his strategy. “I tried to be aggressive and just enjoy myself,” he said. “There’s nothing to change in my approach; I’m going to keep attacking and hopefully make more putts.”

Tom Marcelo, another lesser-known contender, was poised to take the first-round lead after reaching five-under with three holes left to play. However, a 45-minute lightning delay halted his momentum, causing him to bogey the par-3 No. 8 on a three-putt miscue and finish with a 66, dropping him to joint third.

"I had no expectations since the course is tough. I just took it one shot at a time," said Marcelo, a 28-year-old rookie pro from Marikina. Despite modest finishes – tied for 28th at Forest Hills and 33rd in Iloilo – he viewed these performances as major confidence boosters.

"I think I gained