LAUREL, Batangas. – Clyde Mondilla kept the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship under control despite a late frontside stumble, salvaging a 72 to move 18 holes away from ending up on top after back-to-back runner-up finishes on the Philippine Golf Tour Thursday.
An uncharacteristic triple-bogey on the par-5 No. 9 nearly ruined the day of the stocky Del Monte ace, who birdied Nos. 3 and 10, then bounced back with back-to-back birdies from No. 16 from close range after dropping another stroke on the 14.
From seven-up over Tony Lascuña halfway through the P2 million event, Mondilla saw his once formidable lead reduced to two with a 14-under 202 total as Guido van der Valk took the challenger’s role with a solid eagle-spiked 66 in a separate flight for 204.
Lascuña cashed in on Mondilla’s early meltdown with a fiery 33 to move within two but the multi-titled campaigner slowed down with a one bogey-one birdie card at the back for a 69 and 206, four strokes behind.
