Go, Ramos share Palos Verdes lead

DAVAO – Under the scorching midday sun, Lloyd Go carded a solid five-under 67 to catch Sean Ramos at the helm and one stroke ahead of Ira Alido at the start of the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Fresh from their stints in the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam last week, Go and Ramos carried the momentum against those who excelled in the Philippine Golf Tour’s inaugural leg at the Apo in Davao City last week.

“It was windy and super-hot in Vietnam, so I kind of got used to it already,” said Go on the conditions, following a missed cut stint in Vietnam.

The Cebuano ace highlighted his 35-32 round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 17th that turned what could’ve been a bogey into a momentum-shifting moment.

Ramos also made an impressive start, overcoming an early slip on No. 2 with four birdies in the next six holes. Added birdies on Nos. 12 and 14 propelled him to co-lead the stellar field in the P2 million championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Meanwhile, Lois Kaye Go, determined to rebound from a lackluster pro debut last week, did spring back, seizing a one-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda with a 72 after 18 holes of their side of ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship.

While it marked a significant turnaround following a disappointing 10th place finish in the Apo Golf Classic, Go’s closing stretch left room for improvement. A series of bogeys in three of the last four holes hindered her from securing a more comfortable lead, allowing Ikeda and others to remain within striking distance despite the challenging course conditions and unpredictable putting surfaces.

Despite her struggles, Go expressed gratitude for her position, admitting she didn’t expect to be in contention – more so to be in the lead.

The country’s top and seasoned players, including members of the national team, and rising stars from various clubs and schools, see action in the SMART/MVPSF National CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) Taekwondo Championships on March 23-24 at the Ayala Malls (Manila Bay) in Pasay City. The Philippine Taekwondo Association said the two-day tournament has already attracted 1,500 participants who will compete into two events – Kyorugi (free sparring) and Poomsae (form).