2019 ICTSI Del Monte Championship: Ababa hikes lead to 4 but local aces threaten
![](https://pgt.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ababa3b.jpg)
Jhonnel Ababa reacts after drilling in a long birdie putt on No. 9
Ababa bucked a wobbly stint on the mound with superb iron game and solid putting, overcoming a bogey mishap on No. 5 with a cluster of birdies, including four in the last eight holes for a 35-32 card that hiked his 36-hole lead of two over Zanieboy Gialon to four heading to the final 18 holes of the P2.5 million championship serving as the seventh leg of the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour.
“I hit it most to the left with my driver but made up for the struggle with good iron play and putting,” said Ababa, whose third straight five-under card gave him a 54-hole total of 15-under 201 and closer to a first PGT crown since ruling the rain-shortened Cebu stop of last year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI.
![](https://pgt.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ababa3c.jpg)
With a huge 4-shot lead, Jhonnel Ababa shows he’s more than ready to slug it out with his nearest pursuers, including the local top guns
“I’ll play a controlled game tomorrow (today) and hope to make the most of my birdie chances,” said Ababa. “I won’t do the chasing anyway.”
Clyde Mondilla and Reymon Jaraula would as the two of the best players to emerge from talent-rich host province after the eminent Frankie Miñoza put on a pair of low rounds to move into contention after straying off the leaderboard in the first two days with mediocre games.
![](https://pgt.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mondilla3a.jpg)
Regaining his form and gaining the needed momentum, Clyde Mondilla expresses confidence of pulling it off in the end
“I struggled on the greens in the first two days but finally I got my touch back,” said the long-hitting Mondilla, who joined the elite roster of Philippine Open winners by humbling a stellar international field in severe conditions at The Country Club last April.
“Actually, I have the edge here…just need short irons for my second shots. I’m very familiar with the course, I know where to land my shots to get good birdie chances,” added the 2017 PGT Order of Merit, who promised to play in the second PGT Asia event abroad in Taiwan next week if he pulls off a win here.
![](https://pgt.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mondilla3b.jpg)
Clyde Mondilla banks on his superb putting to wheel back into contention
At joint fourth at 207 with Elmer Salvador and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who fired 66 and 68, respectively, Jaraula still stood six strokes behind Ababa but the rising Del Monte star remained hopeful of completing another stirring win.
“My driving was a bit wild in the first round and played safe in the next. Today (yesterday), I finally got my rhythm and touch back and hopefully, I sustain it tomorrow (today),” said Jaraula, who humbled veteran and multi-titled Tony Lascuña on the second playoff hole at Pueblo to end a six-year search for a PGT diadem.
![](https://pgt.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jaraula3b-1.jpg)
Reymon Jaraula finally flaunts the form that netted him a breakthrough win at Pueblo last week
Noel Langamin, another Del Monte bet, shot a second straight 68 for solo seventh at 208 while unheralded Francis Morilla struck with a 67 to tie Keanu Jahns (71), Lascuna (72) and Alido (72) at eighth at 209.
Juvic Pagunsan rebounded from a second round 73 with a second 69 but virtually kissed his bid for a record fifth PGT win this year with a 211 aggregate, 10 shots off Ababa in a tie with Japanese Takahashi Keisuke (68) and Johvanie Abaño (72) behind Elmer Saban, who fumbled with a 73 for a 210 in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.