CAVINTI, Laguna. – Joenard Rates stayed hot in varying conditions to match his opening solid 68 on Wednesday to catch an equally steady Zaniebiy Gialon halfway through the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here.
Staying out of trouble on a course where dangers practically lurk in every corner, Rates shot a couple of birdies on each side of the Caliraya Springs Golf Club and moved into a share of the lead at 136 and closer to another crack at a Philippine Golf Tour title.
“I’m happy to be in contention going to moving day,” said Rates. “This round is super good.
I hit some good drives and avoided troubles.”
Gialon also put in a bogey-free 69 as the duo continued to flash top form on an Arnold Palmer-designed course spruced up to championship condition for its initial hosting of a PGT event.
“I had a good up-and-down game, especially at the back, and finished with a solid round,” said Gialon, who has never tasted victory since dominating the field in the ICTSI Calatagan in 2017.
Dutch Guido Van der Valk scorched the frontside on his way out with a fiery 31 to likewise churn out a four-under card. But he stood four strokes off the joint leaders at 140 in a tie with Mondilla.
“I didn’t hit very well at the frontside (backnine) but at the back, I started to hit it very good,” said Van der Valk, also out to snap a long title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “The roughs are tough, you got to hit the fairways.”
Mondilla, the 2019 Philippine Open champion at The Country Club who prevailed in a five-player playoff at Pradera Verde in 2020 before the pandemic halted play in all sports, yielded to Gialon for the second straight day with a two-birdie, one bogey round.
But he remained in the hunt and upbeat of his chances for another title shot after losng to Miguel Tabuena at ICTSI Luisita Championship last month.
