Mondilla, Gleeson lead chase for Luisita crown

The country’s top guns and a slew of foreign aces slug it out in what promises to be a fiery duel of power and precision as the ICTSI Luisita Championship unwraps on Monday at the course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in Tarlac.

While the locals dominated the last five legs of the 2018 PGT Asia season, the foreign bidders from at least 18 nations are coming into the $100,000 championship upbeat of their chances, particularly the top finishers in the PGT Asia Qualifying Tournament last week.

That event was also held at the hazard-laden layout somewhat softened by afternoon rain the past two days.

That should make the kickoff leg of the third season of the region’s emerging circuit worth watching with David Gleeson of Australia hard-pressed to duplicate his victory here last year when he nipped Erwin Arcillas on the third playoff hole.

“The course is tough, the fairways and greens are softer with the rain. If it continues for the rest of the week, a 12-under total could win it,” Gleeson said.

This week’s 113-player roster is deep in talent, guaranteeing fierce action up to the last putt on Thursday with the locals vowing to extend their domination after James Ryan Lam, Joenard Rates, Jhonnel Ababa, Juvic Pagunsan and Clyde Mondilla reigned in the last five legs of the just-concluded season.

Mondilla will be a marked man after the Del Monte ace held off a horde of pursuers to nail his first Philippine Open title and clinch the PGT Asia Order of Merit crown.