CAVINTI, Laguna. — With no clear favorite and conditions ripe for surprises, the Philippine Golf Tour resumes Tuesday with the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship in a test of form, focus and fortitude where anyone could break through.
The P2 million event has turned into a much-anticipated clash following the postponement of the weather-hit Valley Golf Challenge three weeks ago. Top local pros and international regulars alike are looking to make up for lost ground, none more eager than former PGA Tour campaigner Justin Quiban.
With limited appearances on the Philippine Golf Tour due to international commitments, Justin Quiban is making every start count. The 29-year-old is all-in at Caliraya, aiming for both a win and redemption after a tied-for-10th finish at Forest Hills last June.
“The break helped – I needed the rest and used it to fine-tune my swing and mindset,” said Quiban, who last won the PGT in late 2023 via a four-hole playoff over Marvin Dumandan. He led early at Forest Hills but faded in the middle rounds.
Still, he sees value in the experience.
“I’ve been itching to compete again, so there’s that extra edge,” he added. “Just trying to find rhythm and see where my game is – no expectations, just play.”
Quiban, however, is far from alone in his quest.
Fresh off a victory at Forest Hills, Dutchman Guido van der Valk enters with momentum. He nipped Keanu Jahns and Angelo Que by one stroke to end a long title drought – and all three are back this week for another run.
Veterans Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa, Zanieboy Gialon, Rupert Zaragosa, Mike Bibat, and Ira Alido bolster the lineup, while a host of hungry challengers eye the top prize in what’s shaping up to be one of the most evenly matched stops on the circuit.
The course itself is no less of a player.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Caliraya Lake, the Arnold Palmer-designed layout is as demanding as it is scenic. It features water hazards, bold elevation changes, and slippery slopes that punish even the slightest lapse in precision.
Recent rains have softened the fairways and greens, likely stretching the layout and putting a premium on distance control and mental toughness.
In conditions like these, past wins and rankings matter little. And that makes Caliraya a stage wide open for the taking.
Clyde Mondilla, the 2024 champion, is skipping this edition due to prior commitments, but the field remains loaded. ADT Morocco back-to-back champions Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus, cousins by blood and rivals by ambition, are expected to shake things up.
Korean Tae Soo Kim, a joint third placer last year, returns, along with Japanese standout Daiya Suzuki and American Collin Wheeler, headlining a strong international contingent in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
