Mondilla upbeat as PH masters starts

Despite so-so finishes early in the Philippine Golf Tour season, Clyde Mondilla comes into the first round of his defense of the PH Masters on Wednesday brimming with confidence.

“I just feel at home here,” Mondilla said after sampling the Villamor layout Tuesday afternoon as the tight, tree-lined military-operated layout in Pasay plays very much like his home course in Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, the Del Monte golf club.

“Although I had a bad start to the season, playing (Villamor) is just like Del Monte—the grass, the fairways and the (putting) surfaces are very much the same,” he added. “I like my chances (of repeating).”

Regarded as the longest hitter in the local tour, Mondilla said he will use his length to his advantage, though he is certain that he will keep his driver in the bag on most holes.

Antonio Lascuña feels that something in the vicinity of 10-under-par will win it on Saturday, a stingy forecast considering the talent in the 110-strong field littered with foreigners.

“A slight mistake off the mound could spell trouble since the fairways are so narrow,” said Lascuña, who tied for second last year together with Jonel Ababa and American Nicolas Paez.

“It’s a wide-open race,” Ababa told the Inquirer.