TARLAC. – Michael Bibat bucked the heat and endured a year-long wait, flashing top form to fire a solid four-under 68 and take a one-stroke lead over Miguel Tabuena at the start of the ICTSI Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here Tuesday.
Bibat carried out a well-laid plan to dominate the long, challenging Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout, keeping the ball in play and hitting superb approach shots that set up a number of chances, four of which he birdied to seize control of the compact 48-player field and the event that marked the resumption of the Philippine Golf Tour.
“I think what I did right was to keep the ball in play considering the course is tough and long. My driving was okay and hit the right approach shots,” said Bibat, who placed fifth in the last PGT event ruled by Tabuena at Eagle Ridge-Aoki in March 2021.
Tabuena shrugged off a wobbly start to card a 69 and stalk Bibat while Nilo Salahog shot birdies linking both nines but flubbed a par-saving putt from close range on the 18th to settle for a 71 for joint third with Jhonnel Ababa and rookie pro Sean Ramos.
Ababa, who went into farming during the long break, mixed two birdies against a bogey while Ramos rebounded from a bogey on No. 2 with three birdies but missed seizing solo third with another mishap on Luisita’s signature par-3 17th.
“We’re thankful for the tour resumption. I hit it pretty well but struggled with my putting,” rued Ababa, a multi-titled campaigner in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
