Charles Hong starts bid for 2nd straight title

MANILA, Philippines — Coming off the most lucrative tournament win of his career, Charles Hong eyes a second straight victory starting Wednesday when the P2 million ICTSI Valley Golf Classic unfolds at the South course in Antipolo.

After pocketing P650,000 by ruling the P3 million Sherwood Hills leg two weeks ago, Hong guns for a rare winning streak against a field made stronger by the return of Antonio Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena.

Lascuña, the back-to-back Order of Merit champion who holds a slim lead over Hong in this year’s race, will be taking good form into the 72-hole event after respectable finishes in two Asian Tour events.

Tabuena, meanwhile, also came from stints abroad and will be using this championship to prepare for the Philippine Open set to fire off next week at Wack Wack East.

“I’m hitting it well, but there will be a very talented field at Valley,” Hong said during practice at Southwoods a couple of days ago. “To contend there, one has to drive it straight and long.”

Meanwhile, Clyde Mondilla , the rising star out of Del Monte in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, yesterday won the pro-am event together with Bernie Gatapia, Joaqs Tolentino and Cecil Esguerra with a 10-under 132.

The event, sponsored by ICTSI, is also backed by Nike Golf, KZG, Titleist, Cleveland, Pacsports, Srixon, Callaway, Sharp and FootJoy.