NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Art Arbole endured Jhonnel Ababa’s early charge, shook off back-to-back bogeys, then produced the biggest swing of the day on No. 15 to move within 18 holes of a long-awaited Philippine Golf Tour breakthrough.
Arbole delivered a gutsy 68 for a 10-under 200 total on Wednesday, bouncing back from bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 with a clutch birdie on the 15th, where Ababa stumbled to a bogey after struggling with his approach.
READ Arbole savors first career 36-hole lead after 67 at Marapara
That two-shot swing turned what had been a one-shot deficit into a one-stroke lead, restoring Arbole’s momentum and putting him tantalizingly close to the title that has eluded him for 14 years in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at Marapara.
“Medyo pressured talaga kasi first time kong mag-lead. Pero focus lang talaga sa laro. Kahit nag-bogey sa Nos. 12 and 13, sinunod ko lang ang game plan ko,” said Arbole, heaving a sigh of relief after surviving the toughest stretch of his round.
Ababa stayed in contention at 201 after matching Arbole’s 68, setting up a final-round duel for the P448,750 winner’s purse in the P2.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
More importantly for both players, the title represents unfinished business.
Arbole is chasing the breakthrough that has remained elusive throughout his career. Ababa, meanwhile, is seeking to end a two-year title drought.
Jeffren Lumbo remained in third at six-under 204 after a 69, four shots off the pace but still within striking distance on a course where no lead is safe.
Defending back-to-back champion Rupert Zaragosa carded a 67 to tie Zanieboy Gialon, who fired the day’s best round of 65, at 205. Clyde Mondilla and Randy Garalde matched 69s for joint sixth at 207.
Aidric Chan shot a 67 to join Josh Jorge, who carded a 70, and Guido van der Valk, who slipped to a 73, at 208.
Angelo Que, the recent Summit Point leg winner and reigning Order of Merit champion, faltered with a double-bogey on No. 7 and struggled to recover on the back nine, closing with two bogeys against a lone birdie for a 71. The stumble left him tied for 21st at 213, 13 strokes off Arbole, effectively ending his title hopes.
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