Arbole nears maiden title
Arbole had been virtually flawless for 38 holes, going bogey-free from the back nine of the opening round through No. 11 Wednesday while piling up eight birdies.
Arbole had been virtually flawless for 38 holes, going bogey-free from the back nine of the opening round through No. 11 Wednesday while piling up eight birdies.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL — Art Arbole absorbed Jhonnel Ababa’s early charge, survived a costly back-to-back bogey stretch, then delivered the biggest swing of the day to reclaim the lead and move within 18 holes of a long-awaited Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) breakthrough.
Arbole fired a gutsy 68 for a 10-under 200 total Wednesday, overcoming bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 with a clutch birdie on the 15th, where Ababa stumbled to a bogey after struggling with his approach.
The two-shot swing turned a one-stroke deficit into a one-shot lead, putting Arbole tantalizingly close to the title that has eluded him for 14 years in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the scorching Marapara course.
“Medyo pressured talaga kasi first time kong mag-lead. Pero focus lang talaga sa laro. Kahit nag-bogey sa Nos. 12 and 13, sinunod ko lang ang game plan ko,” said Arbole, 35.
Arbole had been virtually flawless for 38 holes, going bogey-free from the back nine of the opening round through No. 11 Wednesday while piling up eight birdies. His run unraveled on Nos. 12 and 13 after he hooked his drive into the water on the par-4 12th and missed a 10-foot par putt from the bunker on the next hole.
“Good bogeys na rin,” he said.
Then came No. 15.
“Good tee shot, good second shot, tapos good putt. Lucky birdie,” Arbole said.
He parred the final three holes to preserve the lead, despite leaving himself birdie opportunities inside six feet on each.
“Enjoy lang. Shot-by-shot lang ang atake,” he said.
Arbole, who turned professional in 2012, made the cut in his first tournament at Spendido Taal but finished last. Now, 14 years later, he is one round away from his first PGT title and a potential birthday gift with his 36th birthday on 29 Sept.
Ababa remained within striking distance at 201 after also shooting 68, setting up a final-round duel for the P448,750 winner’s purse in the P2.5-million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Ababa, chasing his first title in two years, said his irons and putting remained sharp despite a cough and cold that forced him to skip his usual post-round practice.
“Maganda ang laro ko ngayon, especially sa irons at putting,” he said.
Jeffren Lumbo was third at 204 after a 69, while defending champion Rupert Zaragosa and Zanieboy Gialon were tied at 205. Gialon fired the day’s best 65.
Angelo Que shot 71 and fell to joint 21st at 213, ending his title hopes.
