Nilo Salahog Takes Early Lead in ICTSI South Pacific Classic
In scorching conditions, Nilo Salahog surged ahead to claim a one-stroke lead over Justin Quiban in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Monday, Sept. 11. Salahog shot a remarkable five-under 67 to establish himself as the frontrunner in a competitive start to the tournament.
Despite the challenging weather, Salahog made an impressive backside start, finishing with a 32 that included a pitch-in birdie on the 17th hole. He then ended his round with another birdie on the ninth hole to secure his position at the top of the leaderboard.
Reflecting on his performance, Salahog admitted that he missed several birdie opportunities but praised the wide fairways on the course that favored the big hitters. He also acknowledged the difficulty of the greens and the intense heat.
While Salahog stood out with his excellent performance, many other players struggled with the tricky greens, resulting in missed birdie chances and three-putts. However, two players, Quiban and Jhonnel Ababa, managed to shoot low rounds to join Salahog in the mix. Quiban posted a 68 to secure second place, while Ababa carded a 69 to tie for third with three other players.
Quiban, who had a strong start in the Del Monte Championship but faltered in the final round, staged a comeback with a frontside 33 and birdied the 11th and 13th holes to share the lead with Salahog early on. However, a bogey on the 14th hole halted his charge, and he concluded his round with four pars.
Ababa, on the other hand, trailed Salahog with a backside 35 but managed to turn it around with birdies on the second and sixth holes. He was seeking redemption after fading in the final round of the Del Monte Championship where he finished fifth.
Other notable performances came from Dino Villanueva, Marvin Dumandan, and Keanu Jahns, who all shot impressive three-under cards to tie with Ababa. Defending champion Tony Lascuña also had a strong finish, birdieing two holes on the back nine to lead the group of players who scored a 71, four shots behind Salahog.
While some of the pre-tournament favorites struggled in the hot conditions and challenging putting surfaces, including Guido van der Valk and Angelo Que, Salahog’s spectacular performance put him in a promising position heading into the next round.
The ICTSI South Pacific Classic is a four-day tournament with a total prize fund of P2 million. The championship is supported by Kampfortis Golf, the official apparel of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
