Filipino parbusters enjoying crowd support

CARMONA, Cavite — Lloyd Jefferson Go and Justin Quiban are eager to lead the local charge as the 108th Philippine Open heads into the weekend at Manila Southwoods.

Go, currently tied for 15th, hopes to keep the prestigious trophy on home soil while protecting his Asian Tour card in the season-ending tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“It’s really good that I’m playing this well this week. This is the last tournament of the year, so I’m trying to keep my Asian Tour card. I know the course and the layout,” Go said.

“I like the way I’ve been playing over the past two days. I’ll just keep doing that and try to drop more putts.”

Go also welcomed the growing local support and urged more Filipinos to turn out and cheer for the home bets.

“It’s been a while, but it’s nice that we have local support. We have more cheers and bigger crowds,” Go said.

“It helps us play better.”

Quiban, who is tied for 18th, acknowledged the pressure of carrying the country’s hopes as the tournament enters its crucial stretch but stressed that “there is still plenty of golf to play.”

“Of course, there is pressure. A lot of people are hoping to see the Filipino flag up on the leaderboard, hopefully at the first spot,” Quiban said.

Quiban said he must avoid getting distracted by expectations and focus instead on executing his game over the final two rounds.

“It’s so easy for your mind to wander and think about results and expectations. But I need to get my mind focused on what has to happen right now,” Quiban said.

“I think that’s what I’ll have to do for the next two days.”