Concepcion seeks to ride momentum

DAVAO CITY — Having quenched the thirst of a decade-long search for a Philippine Golf Tour victory, Fidel Concepcion now heads to the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic not just with renewed confidence but with a champion’s mindset and a sense of freedom that only a breakthrough win can bring.

“I’m playing some solid golf,” said Concepcion, who looks to ride the momentum of his maiden triumph into the P3.5 million championship beginning Tuesday at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates, also here.

That confidence was hard-earned. The Filipino-Australian endured years of near-misses since turning professional in 2013 before finally nailing his first Tour victory at Apo Golf, where he edged Korean Jaehyun Jung on the second playoff hole.

It wasn’t an easy path to the top. Concepcion appeared on course for a commanding win after building a six-shot lead midway through the final round, only to falter with a shaky finish while Jung mounted a furious comeback.

But when it mattered most, Concepcion held firm — leaning on accuracy, composure and consistency to weather the storm and capture the elusive crown.

“I feel like I’ve been working pretty hard since January,” said Concepcion, crediting not just his personal discipline but also his “small but solid team” for helping him elevate his game. His runner-up finish to Keanu Jahns in Bacolod last month hinted that a win was coming; Apo was simply the culmination of months of quiet belief and steady progress.

Now, with the hunger for a first title finally satisfied, Concepcion shifts his focus toward building on that success rather than defending it.