BUKIDNON — Quality of shots and innate skills will take the spotlight as the big names in local golf clash in the ICTSI Del Monte Championship which unwraps Tuesday at the Del Monte Golf Club here.
Five winners of the previous Philippine Golf Tour will see action as the Tour resumes after a 10-week break in the P2.5 million championship.
Ira Alido, who won the kickoff leg in Bacolod, and Clyde Mondilla, winner of the last Tour stop at Forest Hills, slug it out with young Sean Ramos in the 7:20 a.m. flight on No. 1 of Del Monte.
“I can’t tell if my chances are good but the sure thing is I’ll give my best to play good,” Mondilla said.
A highly-spirited duel also looms in the 7:40 a.m. clash featuring Valley leg champion Reymon Jaraula, Caliraya Springs titlist Tony Lascuña and Villamor Philippine Masters ruler Jhonnel Ababa.
Iloilo leg runaway winner Rupert Zaragosa mixes it up with Justin Quiban and Guido van der Valk in the 7:30 a.m. group.
Ababa said he is upbeat but wary of his chances to duplicate his two-stroke victory over Jaraula when Del Monte hosted a PGT leg in 2019 before the pandemic.
The same with the rest of the bidders, including former leg winners Michael Bibat, Zanieboy Gialon, Jerson Balasabas, Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador and the comebacking Mhark Fernando.
Legend Frankie Miñoza, the sentimental pick this week, is also expected to figure in the title hunt using his knowledge of the course as he trades shots with the power-hitting Marvin Dumandan and young Korean Rho Hyun Ho in the 8:20 a.m. flight, also on the first hole.
