2018 ICTSI Del Monte Championship: Alido, Lee cling to Del Monte lead with 69s
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Ira Alido looks forward to a big weekend at Del Monte
From the backside, Lee gunned down three birdies in the last five holes, added another on No. 5 from close range but missed grabbing the solo lead with a bogey on the par-4 No. 8 for a 36-33 card. Alido also hit three birdies in a solid frontside stint but unlike Lee, the rising Filipino star needed to birdie the last to negate a bogey on No. 17 and preserve a 33-36 round at the Del Monte Golf Club.
With 137s, Lee and Alido, who shot identical 68s Wednesday, stood a stroke ahead of new pursuer Nicolas Paez of the US, who highlighted his tournament-best 67 with an eagle on No. 14, and James Ryan Lam, who turned in a 69 for 138s while Tony Lascuña lay another shot back at 139 after a 68.
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Two superb rounds boost Ira Alido’s drive for a breakthrough win
“I could’ve taken the lead had I made those eagles,” said Alido. “I failed to read clearly my lines of putt on those holes.”
But he’s unmistakably in the hunt for a crack at a maiden crown although with a slew of aces just a stroke or two adrift, the 17-year-old shotmaker will have a lot of toughening up to do in the last 36 holes to achieve a dream championship so early in his career.
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Lee Song hopes to drive past Ira Alido in a crucial duel of the young guns in the third round.
“I played relatively good, especially my short game and putting,” said the 19-year-old Lee, who will be as much tested as Alido in the featured threesome, with Lam, in the pivotal third round today.
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Lee Song combines solid wedge shots with superb putting to stay in command
Bibat, out to end a long title spell, bounced back from a bogey mishap on No. 4 with four birdies the rest of the way for a 69, Keoninh failed to sustain his eagle-spiked opening 68 with a 72, Van der Valk missed closing in on the leaders with two bogeys in the last three holes for a 71, and Kim overcame a two-over start with three birdies in the last six for a 71.
Carlos, whose backside blitz in the final round netted him a four-stroke victory at Apo last weekend, missed joining Lascuña at fifth with a late bogey on the par-3 seventh but remained upbeat of his chances for another crack at the top P550,000 purse in the 72-hole championship put up by ICTSI.
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Lee Song and Tony Lascuña share light moment during the early going of the second round.
Among those who failed to advance are former PGT Asia winner Rene Menor (73-147), Orlan Sumcad (77-148), Spaniard Salvador Paya Vila (76-148), Charles Hong (77-150), Gerald Rosales (77-150), Nilo Salahog (78-151) and Zanieboy Gialon (76-153).
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James Ryan Lam sneaks into contention with a gutsy 69.
Other two-under scorers were Robert Pactolerin (71), Korean Kim Sung Wook (73), Englishman Joshua Greville-Wood (71), Reymon Jaraula (69) and Justin Quiban (71).
Jay Bayron, who ruled the PGT Asia at Southwoods recently, rebounded from a 74 with a 69 for a 143 while Frankie Miñoza, winner of this event in 2013, also bounced back from a 73 with a 71 for a 144 in the event backed BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.