Local aces Clyde Mondilla and Jerson Balasabas and Aussie David Gleeson set out for back-to-back feats while the rest of the 121-player cast go all out to foil their bids at the start of the ICTSI Riviera Classic at the Langer course in Silang, Cavite, on Wednesday.
Mondilla skipped Tuesday’s pro-am to further hone up for the $100,000-championship he won by two over Michael Bibat and Korean amateur Tom Kim last year.
The reigning Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Order of Merit champion has had a string of forgettable finishes lately, including a 41st place finish in last week’s Philippine Masters at Villamor.
Balasabas is seeking a follow-up to his playoff win over Dutch Van der Valk at Masters, like Gleeson, who ruled the kickoff leg of the second PGT Asia at Luisita last month.
“I need more practice to bring back my game,” said Mondilla, who racked up four victories last year.