DAVAO City – Japanese Atsushi Ueda capitalized on an early tee time and near-ideal conditions to fire an two-under-par 70 for a one-stroke lead over five others in the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic on Tuesday.
Playing in the day's opening flight, Ueda – still riding high from a career-best third place finish at Del Monte – navigated the famously punishing layout with poise and precision. He carded five birdies to offset a bogey and a double bogey on the par-4 No. 15, where he hit a tree and found water.
“I got five birdies, my putting so good,” said the Nagoya native in halting English, beaming with pridee after taming the tricky greens that confounded many others.
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His 70 was enough to pace the field and underscore his growing confidence on the Philippine Golf Tour.
While Ueda flourished, many of the tournament's pre-tournament favorites – particularly the homegrown aces – struggled to find rhythm on a course known as much for its tight fairways and firm greens as its demand for mental fortitude.
Tony Lascuña, a revered name here and on the Tour, needed birdies on Nos. 14 and 18 to salvage a 73, keeping him within striking distance in the P3.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. at joint 12th with eight others.
Similarly, Jhonnel Ababa, last year’s playoff champion over Guido van der Valk at this very venue, limped to a four-over 74 after a wobbly 39 at the front, marred by four bogeys against a birdie. He made two more bogeys against a birdie in the first three holes at the back but a late eagle on the par-5 18th breathed life into what could’ve been a forgettable start.
While the top guns stumbled, several local dark horses emerged from the shadows. Elee Bisera relied on intimate course knowledge and mental grit to post a steady 71. He was joined at one-under by a mixed pack that included fellow Davaoeño Zanieboy Gialon, Fidel Concepcion, James Ryan Lam and Arnold Villacencio.
Local talents Ramil Bisera and Elmer Salvador turned in even-par 72s to join van der Valk, Gerald Rosales and Nilo Salahog in a tie for seventh.
“Apo demands a smarter approach off the tee,” said Concepcion, comparing the renowned course to Del Monte, where he tied for 12th with Lam and two others last week. “Unlike Del Monte, where you can pull out your driver on some holes, here it’s not really the case – you have to be precise with your tee shots.”
Joining Lascuña at 12th are former PH Masters champion Jerson Balasabas, Russell Bautista, Koreans Ji Sung Cheon and Tae Soo Kim, Albin Engino, Francis Morilla, Richard Sinfuego and Jhondie Quibol.
Also at 74 and tied with Ababa are the returning Lloyd Go, Dan Cruz, Rico Depilo, Korean Lee Song and American Collin Wheeler.
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