2018 ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge: Quiban overwhelms field with 2nd 64, leads by 7
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While Justin Quiban figures his way out of the woods, his rivals try to look for ways how to stop him in the final round.
Four straight birdies from No. 2 put Quiban practically beyond reach at 14-under and the 22-year-old former amateur hotshot added two more birdies to complete a bogey-free round of 30-34 for a whopping seven-stroke bulge over Jay Bayron at 16-under 194.
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So satisfied with his game, Justin Quiban flashes the thumbs-up signs with still 18 holes to play.
“The hot start was part of my mindset today (yesterday). I wanted to have this kind of score at the frontnine to ease the pressure coming home and also to put the burden on those rallying behind,” said Quiban, who could’ve stretched his lead further if not for muffed birdie putts inside four feet on Nos. 13 and 15.
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Not even an eagle on No. 15 could push Jay Bayron within sight of Justin Quiban.
Bayron spiked his third straight 67 with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 No. 15 but the PGTA Southwoods winner last month still stood too far behind at 201 with 18 holes to play in the P2.5 million tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“With his huge lead, it would be tough to beat him (Quiban). He’s too good and here at Binitin, it’s easy to recover from bad shots,” said Bayron, who nevertheless hopes to provide a different kind of pressure with Clyde Mondilla in the final group today.
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Jobim Carlos rues his flubbed birdie chances that stymied his vaunted third round charge.
“At least, I’m starting to get my feel (on the game) back, that’s the most important thing,” said Mondilla, who went on a slump with a number of missed cut stints this season after dominating last year’s edition of the annual circuit. “I just hope to turn in impressive finishes in this Visayan swing.”
Nilo Salahog actually closed to within three strokes with a birdie on the first hole but the opening round leader lost his poise and crumbled in the face of Quiban’s scorching charge from the second hole. He bogeyed four of the next 10 holes and limped with a 73 to tumbled to a share of 10th with Michael Bibat (67) and Paul Echave (69) at 207.
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Despite his superb short game, Guido Van der Valk still comes up short to pull within striking distance of Justin Quiban.
The other pursuers did try to mount a challenge but like Salahog and Villacencio, all fell short despite Quiban’s slowing down with regulation pars from No. 8 to the 16th. Richard Sinfuego fired a 66 for solo eighth at 205 while Ira Alido turned in a 68 for ninth at 206 in the event backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.