Justin Quiban wasted no time announcing his Philippine Golf Tour comeback, braving blustery conditions while taking full advantage of a softened Summit Point layout to fire a seven-under 65 and grab a one-stroke lead over Angelo Que after Tuesday’s opening round of the ICTSI Summit Point Championship here.

Quiban combined solid driving with steady course management to emerge at the forefront of a high-scoring assault, birdieing two of his first three holes before recovering from a setback on No. 6 with a blistering finish. He birdied six of his last 10 holes, including a three-birdie binge from Nos. 13 to 15 and another birdie on the 18th that capped a 31 on the back nine.

“I just had to make sure I was driving it well enough to keep myself in the fairway because, if it’s in the fairway, and given that it’s wet and we’re playing under winter rules, we get to fix our lies. But if you’re in the rough with mud balls, it’s so hard to hit the greens,” said Quiban, emphasizing the importance of distance control in such demanding conditions.

“The strategy was to keep it in play and keep it in the fairway so I could get aggressive on my second shots, which I somehow did. I hit it pretty close and made a couple of putts out there to end up shooting a 65,” added Quiban, whose confidence was evident throughout a round in which he repeatedly converted scoring chances despite the stiff breeze.

The performance continued the momentum of his impressive start to the season. Quiban won the opening leg at Lakewood last March, rallying from behind and clinching the title with a dramatic eagle on the final hole. He resumed his campaign overseas, seeking more experience and opportunities to sharpen his game — work that showed in full measure in his first 18 holes at Summit Point.