TARLAC—Combining power off the tees and splendid shot control, Ira Alido fired a bogey-free six-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Clyde Mondilla and two foreigners after the first round of the ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open here Wednesday.
Cashing in on his local knowledge of the tight, challenging Luisita Golf and Country Club layout, Alido turned the back nine upside down with five of his six birdies for a 35-31 card.
Mondilla, the reigning Philippine Open champion, holed out with a birdie on the 18th to catch Aussie Tim Stewart and American Brett Munson.
Korean-American Micah Shin, who scored his breakthrough win here in 2016, missed forcing a four-way tie at second with a late bogey for a 68, tied with the veteran Anthony Fernando.
Antonio Lascuña put himself in the mix early with a 70 as he guns for a fourth win in as many weeks.