Gialon grabs ICTSI Open lead with 67

Zannie Boy Gialon assembled a five-under-par 67 before rain and lightning halted play Thursday to seize the lead in the ICTSI Open Championship at the Wack Wack East course in Mandaluyong.

The 26-year-old Gialon birdied his first three holes and sustained his hot form the rest of the round. He shot a total of six birdies and dropped just one shot, on No. 11.

Play was called at 4:30 p.m., leaving nine flights stranded.

Counting his level 72 on Wednesday, Gialon now has a 139 total and will have the lead no matter what happens after the completion of play for those in the stranded flights this morning.

Miguel Tabuena also made his move and completed a 69 for 143, even as Antonio Lascuña, the first-round leader with a 71 on Wednesday, settled for a 73 and an even 144.

Gialon, who learned to play the game while working as a caddy at Apo Golf in Davao, a course that is very similar to the East layout, also had six birdies in the first round. But the big difference this time was that he putted so well he rescued pars on the three times that he missed the fairway.

“My putting stroke just clicked today,” Gialon said in Filipino as he inched closer to winning for the first time in a year. He last won at Northwoods, which was shortened by foul weather to 54 holes, last year.

Dutchman Guido Van der Valk also settled for a 73 after dropping two shots in his last seven holes for 145.

Cassius Casas and Angelo Que, who won their Philippine Opens in this layout, fired a 69 and 73, respectively, for 146 aggregates.

Elmer Salvador shot a 71 for 147 with Charles Hong and Joenard Rates slipping to 148 after a 76 and 75, respectively.
Musong R. Castillo