Alido sets pace

I’m quite familiar with the course since I used to practice and play here during my amateur days.

TARLAC — Ira Alido flaunted his power and ball control then bucked the wind at the finish to fire a bogey-free six-under 66 and wrest a one-stroke lead over Clyde Mondilla and two other foreign aces at the start of the ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open here yesterday.

Cashing in on his local knowledge of the tight, challenging Luisita Golf and Country Club, Alido actually only got going when the going got tough, scorching the backside with five birdies for a 35-31 that stood as the best in a day when the early starters took charge.

“The greens are quite tough but manageable. I had to toughen up at the back with the wind coming into play. I’m quite familiar with the course since I used to practice and play here during my amateur days,” said Alido, who has put up a number of impressive finishes in the last few PGT and PGT Asia tournaments anchored on strong starts.

But closing out has been the 18-year-old shotmaker’s main concern, at least in a couple of tournaments.

“I actually failed to hold on to my lead at South Pacific because I was not feeling well then. This time, I’m okay and in top shape physically and mentally to last me for four days,” the sophomore pro, who settled for fifth at Wack and Wack and finished second in Davao, added.

But stalking him at 67s is a troika of veterans ready to pounce on the slightest miscue, led by Mondilla, who gunned down five birdies after 15 holes, including a flubbed eagle putt from 10 feet on the par-5 12th, only to stumble with a wet bogey on the par-5 16th.