Clyde Mondilla guns for a rare three-title romp on the Philippine Golf Tour, heading a stellar field slugging it out in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, May 31) at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

The 23-year-old rising used the eight-day break honing his skills further, keen on keeping the streak going that started with a playoff victory over rookie pro Jobim Carlos at Eastridge early in the month. He followed it up with a convincing eight-stroke romp over Jhonnel Ababa at Calatagan two weeks ago.

“I want to improve more and win again so I practiced a lot during the break,” said Mondilla, who has piled up four victories in a young pro career.

The rest of the elite 82-player starting field are also coming into the P2 million event upbeat of their respective chances, including Tony Lascuna, the last player to string three straight victories in 2014 in Bacolod, Riviera and Manila Southwoods.

“Clyde is on a roll but we’re all ready to stop him,” said Lascuna, runaway winner at Luisita last March but who struggled in the next four legs, including in Calatagan where he wound up third, nine shots off Mondilla.

The former three-time Order of Merit champion, however, hopes to finally flash the putting touch that has hampered his campaign in this year’s tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Carlos, meanwhile, is back in the fold after skipping the Calatagan stop of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., raring to atone for his loss to Mondilla and resume his hunt for a breakthrough win.

Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador, joint fourth with Japanese Syotaro Onuki in the last leg, are also tipped to contend for the top P270,000 purse along with Rufino Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Cassius Casas, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Charles Hong, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales, Orlan Sumcad and Arnold Villacencio.

Veteran Frankie Miñoza also marks his return to the local circuit after missing a couple of tournaments, hoping to flash vintage form against a field teeming with young talents, including Mondilla and Carlos.
Onuki, meanwhile, heads the crack roster of foreign players seeking to sneak into the title race, including Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Koreans Charlie Chang, Soon Hyup Hong, Hwang Kang Youl, Kim In Jae and Thomas Kim, Japanese Ryoma Miki and Kei Takahashi, and Aussie Frederick Park.