Clyde Mondilla flashes awesome form on No. 15

BACOLOD – Clyde Mondilla matched his opening round 65 in solid fashion to hold off a charging Miguel Tabuena and wrest a two-stroke lead over Jay Bayron and Dutch Guido Van der Valk halfway through the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.

Out to resume his winning ways and redeem himself from back-to-back mediocre finishes at Forest Hills and Binitin, Mondilla leaned on a fiery finish at the front to turn in a bogey-free 31-34 card in another torrid scoring at the short, tight layout which continued to receive a beating from the elite field with 29 breaking par.

With a 10-under 130 aggregate, Mondilla stormed past a fading erstwhile solo leader Rufino Bayron and co-joint second placers Jay Bayron and Van der Valk and moved 36 holes away from nailing his third leg victory after nipping rookie pro Jobim Carlos in a playoff at Eastridge and dominating the field in Calatagan last May.

Clyde Mondilla hits a solid approach shot on No. 16

But after scoring that back-to-back title romp, the rising Del Monte star’s game took a downswing, finishing tied for fourth at Eagle Ridge, struggling to joint 12th at Forest Hills and ending up tied at 20th in Binitin last weekend – the last three legs Tony Lascuña swept in varying fashions.

But after a bogey start Wednesday, the 23-year-old Mondilla strung up 10 birdies, including five yesterday he spiked with birdies on Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Van der Valk, also out on a mission after losing to Lascuña in a three-man playoff in Binitin, missed grabbing solo second with a bogey on the 17th, settling for a 67 which Jay Bayron matched with a bogey-free 34-33 for 132s.

Micah Shin of the US, the other losing player last weekend, also stayed in the hunt with a flawless 67, joining a surging Tabuena at fourth at 133.

Tabuena, who failed to flash his attacking kind of game with a 69 in the first round, finally got what he wanted, gunning down three birdies on both nines to put in a solid 64 that likewise put the Olympic-bound ace into title contention in the P1.5 million event sponsored by ICTSI.

“I just wanted myself to have decent looks for birdies. I’m not afraid to pull my driver and rip it,” said Tabuena. “I know when I drive it well, I’ll post a low score. Just wanted my presence felt on top of the leaderboard.”

Guido Van der Valk watches his drive on No. 3

Rookie pro Justin Quiban fired a 66 to join Cassius Casas, who carded a 68, and Zanieboy Gialon, who turned in a 69, at sixth at 134, four strokes off Mondilla heading to the last 36 holes of what promises to be a shootout among the fancied players in the fold.

Frankie Miñoza also flashed vintage form and shot a bogey-free 65 to stay in the hunt at 135 in a tie with Benjie Magada, who churned out the day’s best score of 63, Jhonnel Ababa and Orlan Sumcad, who shot identical 66s, Gherome Malaga, who made a 67, Joenard Rates, who matched par 70, and Rufino Bayron, who after an impressive 63 Wednesday fumbled with four bogeys against just two birdies for a 72.

But while majority had either sustained their hot charge or had recovered from so-so starts, Lascuña continued to grope for form coming off a three-leg win, hobbling with two bogeys against the same number of birdies for a 70 and fell to joint 23rd at 139, nine shots behind Mondilla.

Jay Bayron pulls off a tough shot in-between the trees on No. 7

“I just couldn’t put it all together. My driving is okay but my iron game is off, I couldn’t hit the green and continued to miss a lot of putts,” rued Lascuña.

Forty one players advanced to last two days of the 10th leg of this year’s circuit, backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion, with Carlos matching par 70 for a 141 in a tie with Mhark Fernando (72), Ramil Bisera (73), Rico Depilo (69), Erwin Arcillas (69), Rey Pagunsan (71) and Robert Marabe (71).

Elmer Salvador made a rare missed-cut stint with a 70 and a 142, along with Mars Pucay, who stumbled with a 75 after a 69, and local favorite Robert Pactolerin, who struggled with a 74 for a 147.