ILOILO – Fidel Concepcion made a bold statement in his pursuit of a breakthrough victory on the Philippine Golf Tour, carding a six-under 64 to secure a one-stroke lead over Guido van der Valk after the opening round of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge on Tuesday.
Benefiting from an early morning start and the lift, clean, and place rule due to soggy fairways from recent rains, Concepcion launched his title campaign in style at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club.
Coming off a missed cut in the last PGT leg at Forest Hills, Concepcion rebounded by birdying three of his first eight holes. Despite a setback on the ninth, he rallied with four more birdies on the back nine to cap a near-perfect 34-30 round.
“I took a break after missing the cut at Forest Hills. I went back to basics, tried to brush it off, and move forward,” said Concepcion, who also praised the well-maintained surface of the tight but tricky par-70 layout, which was built in 1907. “I putted really well, and the greens are excellent. You can’t complain much about a 64.”
Van der Valk birdied four of the first seven holes then bounced back from two bogeys with a trio of birdies from the 13th to finish his 65 while Ira Alido carded a 66 to take third, highlighting his back-nine surge with three birdies.
Defending champion Rupert Zaragosa and veterans Tony Lascuña and Reymon Jaraula are among those tied at fourth with rounds of 67.
Concepcion’s late birdie barrage, combined with precision shot-making, gave him the edge, but he knows the fight for top honors in the P2.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is far from over.
Reigning Philippine Masters champion Angelo Que blew a three-under card with consecutive bogeys on holes 13 and 14, but a birdie on the 17th rescued a 68, giving him solo seventh.
A group of 10 players, including Art Arbole, Albin Engino, Zanieboy Gialon, Nelson Huerva, Kim Tae Won, Jeffrey Pito-on, Hyun Ho Rho, Ivan Monsalve and local aces Godofredo Sinfuego and Richard Sinfuego, all finished at 69, making it a crowded leaderboard after Day 1 of this third-to-last 72-hole championship on the Philippine Golf Tour calendar.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
