Jhonnel Ababa surged to the top with a two-under 70 in another challenging day at the Apo course in Davao on Wednesday, grabbing a one-stroke lead over Korean Gwon Minwook halfway through the 2024 ICTSI Apo Golf Classic.
Despite a shaky start at the back nine, Ababa bounced back with a run of five birdies, finishing with a 20-foot putt on No. 18.
He sustained his attack at the front, birdying Nos. 1 and 8 to stay in command but failed to get up-and-down on the ninth for a pair of 35s.
While content with his lead at 143, the ace Davaoeño shotmaker acknowledged the importance of the third round in maintaining his position.
However, he also underlined the need to improve his driving and iron play.
“My stroke was off at the beginning, but I quickly recovered,” said Ababa, who bogeyed Nos. 10 and 12 but rebounded with three birdies in the next six holes, capped by a long putt on the par-5 18th.
Still, he remained cautious of the strong competition with Gwon and several others staying within striking distance.
“Tomorrow is crucial; you need to perform well to avoid falling behind on the final day,” said the two-leg winner of last year’s edition of the annual circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Gwon, who tied for fifth in last week’s PGT Q-School at South Pacific, bounced back from a double bogey on No. 12 with an eagle on the next and a birdie on No. 18 to fire a 71, moving to solo second at 144.
Local talents Tony Lascuña and Jay Bayron also positioned themselves as contenders, along with 10 others, including fellow Davaoeños Zanieboy Gialon and Edmar Salvador Jr.
Lascuña, the Tour’s only four-time OOM winner who ruled this event in 2019, carded a 70, propelling him to third at 145.
Meanwhile, Bayron – out to snap a long title spell – likewise remained in the hunt with a 72 for a 146. He caught Gialon and first-round joint leader Ozeki Kakeru from Japan.
Gialon, who last won at Caliraya Springs in 2022, squandered a one-under card with bogeys in the last two holes at the front for a 73.
Meanwhile, Kakeru also reeled back in a front-side finish, dropping strokes on Nos. 6 and 8 for a 74.
Notably, Kristoffer Arevalo shot the tournament-best four-under 68, highlighted by three birdies in the last six holes.
He fought back from a 77 to join Salvador and Dutchman Guido van der Valk at seventh with 147s.
Salvador, who matched Kakeru’s opening 72 Tuesday, struggled with a 75, while van der Valk squandered a solid backside 33 with bogeys on Nos. 2, 4, and 6 to settle for a 72.
But the title race remains tight with several players grouped closely, promising an exciting third round in the P2.5 million championship supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf.
They include Ira Alido, Russell Bautista, Japanese Kei Matsuoka, Korean Hyun Ho Rho, and Rupert Zaragosa, who all assembled 148s.
Alido, Matsuoka, and Rho shot 73s, Bautista carded a 74, while Zaragosa fumbled with a 73.
Zaragosa, in chase of a second win after dominating the Iloilo leg last year, threatened to within a stroke off Ababa with a three-under card with three holes left at the front.
But he lost his momentum and putting touch, closing out with a bogey-double-bogey skid to drop to joint 10th.
Forty-one players advanced to the last 36 holes with last week’s Q-School top-notcher Aidric Chan and two-time elims winner Toru Nakajima from Japan barely making it through with 154s after 75 and 77, respectively.
Among those who fell by the wayside were last year’s Valley leg runaway winner Reymon Jaraula (76-156), last week’s Q-School No. 2 Kuresh Samanodi (73-157), former leg winner Arnold Villacencio (76-160), last week’s joint fifth-placer Drew Proctor of the US (79-160), consistent Top 10 finisher Dino Villanueva (80-161), and former OOM winner Jobim Carlos (82-166).
