DAVAO – Fresh from his unexpected triumph at Apo, Jhonnel Ababa enters the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship with cautious optimism as the P2 million event kicks off on Tuesday.
Facing a formidable field of competitors and navigating unfamiliar terrain at the Palos Verdes course, Ababa acknowledges the absence of any home course advantage unlike in the previous venue of the Philippine Golf Tour. He also expresses apprehension about the intense heat, which is set to double the temperature back home.
Unfamiliar course
"It’s scorching at Palos Verdes, and we're not accustomed to playing there, so any home advantage is out the window," said the reigning PGT Order of Merit champion, referring to the par-72 layout, renowned for its beauty and challenge.
Featuring island greens, diverse hill slopes, and undulating putting surfaces, the golf course in Barangay Mandug presents both allure and difficulty.
Ababa's attention, however, is captivated by the competitive field.
Guido van der Valk, whom Ababa narrowly defeated in a playoff at Apo, enters the championship with boosted confidence following a strong performance in the opening leg of this year’s 10-leg circuit sponsored by ICTSI.
Local stars Tony Lascuña and Jay Bayron, who shared third place last week, are eager to raise their game, while several foreign PGT Q-School graduates, who showed promise early at the Apo Golf Classic but faltered at the finish, are determined to redeem themselves.
Among them are Americans Drew Proctor and Collin Wheeler, Koreans Gwon Minwook and Min Hyeok Yu, and Japanese Toru Nakajima.
All eyes on young guns
Local young talents, including third-round leader Kristoffer Arevalo and Q-School topnotcher Aidric Chan, are also determined to bounce back after disappointing performances.
Arevalo, who impressed with a stellar 54-hole display, stumbled in the final round with an 81, slipping from the top to joint 13th. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is expected to glean lessons from the setback and show improvement.
Meanwhile, Chan aims to rediscover his form and finesse after struggling to replicate his qualifying performance at the nearby South Pacific.
Rookie Ryan Monsalve, buoyed by his remarkable fifth-place finish at Apo, anchored by a two-under 70, looks to build on his momentum, boasting one of the top three scores in the final round.
Despite the presence of these notable names, a slew of players, including Keanu Jahns, Zanieboy Gialon, Clyde Mondilla, Rupert Zaragosa, Ira Alido, Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, and Marvin Dumandan, are poised to provide stiff competition, promising another thrilling showcase of skill and character in the four-day championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf.
Meanwhile, following the Holy Week break, the Tour resumes with the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship on April 9-12 at the Caliraya Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna.
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