Mondilla vaults ahead by 1

TARLAC—Clyde Mondilla fired five birdies in a flawless five-under-par 67 yesterday to seize a one-shot lead over Charles Hong and overnight leader Keanue Jahns going into today’s final 18 holes of the P2-million ICTSI Luisita Championship here.

Seeking his second pro win, the long-hitting Mondilla broke 70 for the third straight round and was at 202 in the first pro tournament held over the highly regarded layout in 26 years.

Hong fired a 69 and Jahns added a 70 to earlier rounds of 66 and 67 to be in a tie for second at 203, two in front of Jonel Ababa who shot a 68.

Marvin Dumandan, Elmer Salvador and Jay Bayron were all within four shots of the lead after carding 66, 67 and 67, respectively, with the ageless Frankie Miñoza firing a 71 for 207.

Jahns, the sophomore pro who led a tournament for the first time after Thursday’s second round, made just five birdies—the fewest in his three rounds this week—that went with three bogeys.

Miñoza, Mondilla’s idol, won the last pro event held here, ruling the President’s Cup in 1989 over such fine internationalists as Rick Gibson of Canada and Carlos Espinosa of Mexico.

Antonio Lascuña, the reigning three-time Order of Merit champion, drifted six strokes off the pace, his 70 leaving him at 208 like Rolando Mara-be, the Villamor pro who had a 71.

Miguel Tabuena was another shot behind in the company of Orlan Sumcad and two Japanese after a 69. Sumcad, the bet from Lipa City, fired a 66 while Toru Nakajima and Yuta Sudo returned 70s.