STA. ROSA, LAGUNA—The Netherlands’ Guido Van der Valk dropped four shots in his last five holes on Thursday and barely clung to a two-stroke lead halfway through the rich The Country Club (TCC) Invitational, as a two-over-par 74 opened up the gates for so many at the exclusive, windswept layout here.
The 40-year-old Dutchman had a six-shot lead entering his final six holes only to stumble, closing out in what he said was “a shameful” way for a 36-hole 145 that had Clyde Mondilla coming within two shots and a host of others earning a new lease on life on the P1.5- million champion’s purse.
Mondilla, who won the Philippine Open last year on this long layout, fired a 70, with Jay Bayron, Rupert Zaragosa and 2004 champion Tony Lascuña another shot behind after identical 73s.
“Bad finish,” Van der Valk said. “But here at TCC, if you sort of start making a few bogeys, it’s so easy to keep on making them because there is not a single easy hole on this course. But making four bogeys in the last five is a shame.”The Country Club (TCC) Invitational