By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Dino Villanueva put on a blistering frontside performance to seize the early lead in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, firing a five-under-par 65 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, September 9.
The 13-year-old pro, still searching for a breakthrough win on the Philippine Golf Tour, turned the par-70 Marapara layout into his stage with a dazzling run of birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
He scorched the course with a 28 before cooling off with a shaky back nine that included two bogeys and a missed birdie putt on the closing par-5 hole.
“Nilaro ko lang ang fairway at greens, tapos nilalapit ko lang ang mga putts — pero pumapasok,” said Villanueva, who kept his approach simple but effective.
His round was highlighted by four straight birdies from No. 5 and a spectacular pitch-in eagle on No. 9, which sent the gallery into cheers.
The Bacolod Challenge veteran, who capped his campaign last week with a hole-in-one, looked poised for an even lower score until mistakes on Nos. 11 and 17 and a missed four-foot birdie on 18 tempered his round.
“It was actually a tough putt, a downhill one, at nalaylay ‘yung putt ko,” he explained.
Despite the slip, his 65 stood out on a day when only 19 players managed to break par, a testament to the difficulty of the rain-softened course.
The “lift, clean and place” rule was in effect, but players still struggled with distance and control on the tight, hazard-laden fairways.
Two shots behind Villanueva at 67 were Keanu Jahns, Reymon Jaraula and Michael Bibat, along with Dan Cruz, Collin Wheeler and Japan’s Atsushi Ueda.
In the women’s division, Korean Seo Yun Kim shook off memories of last week’s collapse in Binitin by carding a one-under 69 to take the solo lead.
The 21-year-old showed composure in a round that featured four birdies against three bogeys, saying she wanted to avoid dwelling on her previous struggles.
“I don’t want to think or recall my past performances because if I do, this only makes me nervous,” she said.
Kim held a one-shot edge over Florence Bisera, Lois Kaye Go, Tiffany Lee, Princess Superal, and Angela Mangana, who all turned in matching 70s.
Lee led for much of the day but faltered on the back nine with bogeys on 10, 12 and 18./ASC, WDJ