Mondilla up by 2 strokes

SILANG, Cavite – Clyde Mondilla leaned on his power while Ira Alido banked on his local knowledge as they churned out a pair of bogey-free rounds in hot but wet condition to take the 1-2 posts at the start of the ICTSI Riviera Classic of the PGT Asia Tour here yesterday.

Mondilla attacked the two par-4s and par-5s at the back of Riviera’s Langer layout for four easy birdies, capping a solid 65 (33-32) and a twostroke lead over Alido, who strung up three straight birdies from No. 10 on his way to a 67 on a course he calls home.

The two local bets’ fiery starts put them ahead of the rest of the 105starting field in this third leg of the region’s newest circuit sponsored by ICTSI, majority of which struggled in soggy condition at the par-71 layout which has barely recovered from the wrath of Typhoon Maring Tuesday.

Jerson Balasabas holed out with a birdie on No. 9 and carded a 69 in one of the late flights for solo third with Colombian Wolmer Murillo also turning in a two-under card with three holes left to play.

Rufino Bayron, out to atone for his final round foldup at ICTSI Splendido Classic won by Rene Menor last Sunday, gunned down five birdies but had two bogeys and a double-bogey under preferred lies rule to finish with a 70 for joint fifth with Erwin Arcillas, former club pro Marvin Dumandan, Omar Dungca and Korean amateur and club bet Tom Kim.