GEN. TRIAS, Cavite – Justin Quiban produced a stirring 10-stroke turnaround with a scorching seven-under 65 Wednesday, catching Michael Bibat at the helm in a day of changing fortunes halfway through the rich ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge at the Aoki course here.
As erstwhile leader Joenard Rates turned from awesome to awful and tumbled to joint sixth with a 76 after a 69, Quiban rebounded from a 75 Tuesday with a barrage of birdies in hot, windy conditions, including three straight to kick start his backside drive.
He did stumble with a couple of bogeys but the two-time champion in PGT Asia at Luisita in 2017 and in PGT Bacolod in 2018 negated them with six more birdies on Nos. 14, 17, 1, 3, 6 and 8 as he found his rhythm and touch lacking in his error-filled opening three-over card to move on top with Bibat at four-under 140.
While Quiban banked on a big rebound to fuel his title bid in the P2 million ICTSI-sponsored championship, Bibat played it steady with a second 70 to stay on course of ending a long spell after scoring a breakthrough at Rancho Palos Verdes in 2013.
Bibat bogeyed the treacherous 18th for the second straight day, enabling Quiban to gain a piece of the lead, just a stroke of Richard Sinfuego and Zanieboy Gialon, who assembled 141s after a 66 and 69, respectively.
Miguel Tabuena checked a wobbly backside 37 with two birdies at the front, breaking par 71 and moving to joint fifth at 144.
Meantime, Harmie Constantino took charge with an early burst of birdies for a 69 to cling to a one-stroke lead over Princess Superal and closer to a dream debut in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge.
Superal settled for a 71.
But with a 142 total, the former Univ. of Georgia mainstay moved 18 holes away from marking her maiden Ladies Philippine Golf Tour campaign with a victory in new normal, five years after beating a crack international field, sans Superal, by eight to win the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Classic as an amateur.
