GEN. TRIAS, Cavite – Lloyd Go thrived in tough conditions, producing a near-impeccable six-under 66 to storm past Angelo Que by two halfway through the ICTSI Eagle Ridge at Aoki Invitational that saw the fall of a slew of early frontrunners and the rise of a mix of bidders Wednesday here.
On target all day with a superb iron play that set up a number of tap-in birdie chances, Go flourished with seven birdies to negate a three-putt miscue on the par-3 No. 7 as the former national champion charged from joint fifth to the top with a nine-under 135.
Que found the going a lot tougher and saved a 70 after kicking off his bid with a lead-sharing 67 in his first PGT foray since March last year, also here.
Que, who last won a PGT event at Southwoods in the PGT Asia in 2019, hit just three birdies against a one bogey caused by a mishit from the fairway bunker and into the water on the par-5 No. 6.
While 36 holes remain in the P2 million championship put up by ICTSI, the next best placed challengers stood four strokes off Go with Tony Lascuña fighting back from an erratic backside start of 38 compounded by another bogey on No. 2 with four birdies in the last six holes to salvage a 71 and a 139.
Splendido leg playoff winner Guido Van der Valk also battled back from a shaky 71 while trying to measure up with Que and Juvic Pagunsan in the first round, settling down with his all-around game to shoot a 68 marked by three-straight birdies from No. 16 for a share of third with Lascuña.
But erstwhile joint leader Zanieboy Gialon stumbled with a 73 after a 67 and slipped to joint fifth at 140 with longshots Albin Engino and Dino Villanueva, who sizzled with a 67 and 69, respectively, while Jhonnel Ababa, the other top gun who carded a solid 67 Tuesday, turned from flawless to flawed with a 74 marred by a double bogey on No. 13.
Pagunsan also blew a backside two-under card with three bogeys in the first eight holes at the front, needing to birdie the ninth to save a 72. But his 143 aggregate dropped him to a share of 17th with Marvin Dumandan and Rupert Zaragosa, who matched 71s, and Gerald Rosales, who faltered with a 74 after a 69.
