BACOLOD CITY – Sarah Ababa showcased her mental toughness and technical precision in the opening round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, producing a gutsy two-under 68 to claim a three-stroke lead over Daniella Uy here on Tuesday.
Tackling the rain-soaked former Marapara layout, which stretched beyond its listed 6,166 yards, the Davaoeña golfer demonstrated the resilience needed to navigate the course’s challenges, heightened by relentless rain from a tropical depression.
The adverse weather softened both fairways and greens, lengthening the course and testing the players’ stamina, strategy and focus. Despite the harsh conditions, Ababa rose to the occasion with poise and accuracy.
“I didn’t focus on the course conditions. I just aimed to stay consistent,” said Ababa in Filipino, whose back-to-back birdies from No. 14 complemented her solid start of two birdies in the first five holes, offsetting bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11.
“Everything clicked – my tee shots to putting. My dad-caddie, who helped read the greens, was a big help,” she added.
Ababa credited her father, former Tour stalwart Edgar Ababa, for the advantage his caddying provided in reading the tough greens.
“We’re used to playing in these kinds of conditions, but having my dad with me on the course is a big edge,” added Ababa, the two-time winner this year at Apo and Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Uy, winner in Bacolod last week, tried to challenge Ababa for early control, particularly on the front nine. However, after a par game at the back, she faltered with three bogeys in her last nine holes despite two birdies, finishing with a 71, three strokes off the pace.
“There were some mistakes, but my short game saved me today. Honestly, the weather didn’t bother me too much. In international tours, we’ve played in heavier rain,” said Uy, who emphasized the importance of staying focused:
“I need to stay committed to my shots on this course,” she said.
Florence Bisera and Gretchen Villacencio both carded 72s to sit tied for third, while Harmie Constantino took solo fifth with a 73. Jiwon Lee, Mikha Fortuna and Chanelle Avaricio followed with 74s, while Princess Superal and Mafy Singson had a rougher start with 76s.
Chihiro Ikeda and Laurea Duque posted 77s, while Marvi Monsalve and Apple Fudolin rounded out the day’s scoring with 78s, all hoping to mount a comeback in the second round of the P1 million championship presented by Negros Electric and Power Corp.
Bisera, who also drew confidence from her father-caddie Reynaldo, found success in her driving, woods and irons, saying, “My putting really clicked today, and I was able to save a lot of pars.”
Villacencio, recovering from an injury sustained in Iloilo, expressed satisfaction with her round, noting her improved form compared to her 14th-place finish in Bacolod last week. “I’m playing with more confidence now,” said Villacencio, one of the few players who did not make any club adjustments despite the challenging conditions. “It’s better to play short here and aim just before the green.”
With the leaderboard tight and the weather adding an extra layer of difficulty, the next two rounds promise to be highly competitive as players adapt and strategize to make their move toward the championship.
Bibat surges through stormy weather
Meanwhile, Michael Bibat showcased his resilience and adaptability, battling through relentless rain and unpredictable conditions to claim the first-round lead at the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic with a four-under 66 for a two-stroke lead over four others at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here on Tuesday.
The tournament’s opening round was played in challenging conditions due to tropical depression Kristine, turning the event into a true test of patience and mental toughness. Torrential rain early on and persistent drizzle throughout the day left the course soaked and muddy, forcing players to make significant adjustments in both their club selections and approach shots.
Bibat rose to the occasion, managing the front nine with three birdies and a lone bogey to lay a strong foundation. He remained steady on the increasingly difficult back nine, adding birdies on Nos. 10 and 13 while many others struggled to handle the slick, muddy fairways and tough pin placements.
“Medyo swerte din, because it’s not easy to play under these conditions – rain, wind and difficult pin positions,” said Bibat, whose last victory came in 2022 at Eagle Ridge. “It (score) could’ve been lower, but I’ll take it.”
He credited his success to his patience, focusing on ball position rather than aggressive play, a strategy crucial under such severe weather.
Trailing Bibat by two strokes are last week’s Bacolod Challenge winner Reymon Jaraula, seasoned veteran Angelo Que, rising star Rupert Zaragosa, and unheralded Francis Morilla, all of whom shot 68s.
Lakewood leg titlist Sean Ramos and Russell Bautista followed closely with 69s, while Tony Lascuña, who topped the Splendido Taal leg in harsh weather conditions, Hyun Ho Rho, Gerald Rosales and Randy Garalde carded even-par 70s, keeping the leaderboard crowded in the early stages of the P2.5 million championship presented by Negros Electric and Power Corp.
Jaraula, aiming for back-to-back wins, managed a composed 2-under on the front nine before encountering challenges in the last nine holes.
“I just played relaxed and took my time – hindi ko na pinansin kung maulan o hindi. Sanay na din kami sa ganitong weather conditions,” said Jaraula, who rebounded with two birdies in the last five holes after bogeying Nos. 11 and 13.
Que, a veteran of harsh weather conditions from his experience on the Japan Golf Tour, emphasized the importance of focus and patience on a course that played a lot longer than its 6,424 yardage.
“We’ve faced worse conditions in Japan,” said Que, who secured his first Japan Tour title at the 2018 Top Cup Tokai Classic. “It’s all about staying focused and adjusting your game to the circumstances.”
Despite limited practice, Zaragosa leaned heavily on his caddie for guidance throughout the round.
“My caddie was a huge help, especially since I wasn’t able to practice, but he guided me through,” said Zaragosa, also stressing the importance of staying patient on the course.
Zaragosa, fresh off recovering from a minor injury that caused him to withdraw from last week’s Bacolod Challenge, had a shaky start, recording a double bogey on the third hole but rebounded impressively with an eagle-2 on the ninth. However, a costly mistake on the final hole denied him a chance to secure solo second place.
Morilla, who barely missed solo second place after a bogey on the par-5 18th, reflected on the tough course but remained optimistic about the days ahead.
“Sobrang hirap ng course, pero maganda ang palo. Except for my mishit off the tee on No. 18, it was all good,” said Morilla, who placed 42nd in Bacolod. “I’ll just try to play steady in the next three days.”
Despite the challenging weather, Bibat, a former Asian Games bronze medalist, remained unfazed. He noted that his experience in similar conditions gave him an edge over the competition.
“I played in worse conditions, so medyo lamang din ang may experience sa ganitong weather,” said Bibat, reflecting on how the rain and wind required players to make 1 1/2 club adjustments on every shot.
Further down the leaderboard, several notable players posted impressive rounds. Eric Gallardo, Forest Hills leg winner Keanu Jahns, Francis Mendez, Joeleo Torrecampo, American Collin Wheeler, and amateur Bobe Salahog all shot 71s, while Iloilo champion Zanieboy Gialon, Ramil Bisera, Ryan Monsalve, Godofredo Sinfuego, and top amateur Zeus Sara registered 72s, ensuring the tournament remains competitive going into the second round.
The wet, slippery conditions are likely to continue testing the players’ patience and adaptability, making every stroke critical as the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized events heads to the crucial second round Wednesday with the top 40 and ties advancing to the final two rounds.
