JUSTIN Quiban chips in from the fringe during the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge at Binitin course in Bacolod City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BACOLOD CITY — Justin Quiban guns for a second straight victory in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic unfolding Wednesday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.

Fresh from a masterful performance in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge last week, Quiban hinted at using his driver again although the par-70, 6197-yard Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club layout also features tree -lined fairways and water hazards that punishes errant drives and an unpredictable putting surface that could make or break one’s title bid.

“I have my sights set for win No. 2 here and I hope it works out again,” said Quiban, who broke an eight-month slump with an emphatic five-stroke victory over Jay Bayron last weekend, dominating the stellar field with solid driving and iron game.

That should make this week’s title chase a lot more exciting than the last time with a slew of big guns, including a number of foreign aces, raring to foil Quiban’s repeat bid.

“For sure, this will be an entirely different fight. Everybody wants to strike back,” said Tony Lascuña during a break in practice in the event serving as the second of four tournaments making up the Visayan swing.

Quiban and Lascuña, together with a select group of pros, test the Marapara layout one last time in Tuesday’s pro-am tournament where they will be paired with guests and officials.

Meanwhile, young Korean Kim Joo Hyung is back in the fold, seeking to score a follow-up to his breakthrough triumph at ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship last month that saw him edge Carlos by one in a thrilling finale to become the young winner on the circuit at 16.

Also in the hunt are compatriots Park Jun Sung and Hwang Myung Chal, Japanese Yu Ikeda and Keisuke Takahashi, Americans Lexus Keoninh and Andy Kang, Salvador Paya Villa of Spain, Macedonian Peter Stojanovski and Manila-based Dutch Guido Van der Valk.

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