Mondilla wrests lead with eagle-spiked 65
LIPA City, Batangas – Clyde Mondilla recalled the form that netted him back-to-back victories at Eastridge and Calatagan, putting in an eagle-spiked seven-under 65 to lead by one shot in the third round of the ICTSI Classic here yesterday.
A crisp, solid drive that sailed through the 331-yard No. 7 of Mt. Lobo and rested just a club-length off the cup for eagle and a pitch-in birdie on No. 13 highlighted the 23- year- old Mondilla’s 32- 33 card, giving him a 54-hole aggregate of 206 and a one-stroke lead over erstwhile leader Orlan Sumcad, who dropped to second at 207 after a 71.
Marvin Dumandan also remained within striking distance at 208 after a 70 and Jay Bayron kept his bid for a third straight championship despite a second straight 71 as he stood at solo fourth at 209 heading to the last 18 holes of the P2 million event sponsored by ICTSI.
“I just felt I could go low today ( yesterday) so I attacked the greens. I was just too confident of my shots,” said Mondilla.
Sumcad, who took charge halfway through with a 66 Thursday, birdied No. 7 then added two more but dropped off the pace with bogeys on the 16th and 18th.
“Despite falling off the lead, I’m still confident of my chances. But I’ll just play and try to enjoy the game tomorrow (today) and hope my putting clicks,” said Sumcad, a many-time contender but never a winner on the tour backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.
“It will be a question of accuracy (on driving) and will boil down to who putts well,” said Dumandan, who actually turned in a bogey-free 35-35 card marred by four missed birdie putts inside seven feet.
But if there’s one player the leading troika should watch out for in a flight behind them, it’s Bayron, who blew a three-under card after 11 holes with a second straight double-bogey on the tough par-4 No. 12.