MANILA—Clyde Mondilla settled for a two-over-par 74 yesterday but still sealed the No.1 seeding for today’s first round of the 2011 Philippine Amateur Closed championship at Wack Wack’s East course.
Riding a hot 34 on the front nine, the Bukidnon stalwart shrugged off a 40 coming home to post a 147 total and beat pint-sized Ruperto Zaragosa III by two shots in the event presented by Pancake House and SOC Land.
Proving that his victory in the junior edition of the tournament two weeks ago at Alabang was no fluke, Zaragosa was the first player to match par 72 for a 149 aggregate.
King Stehmeier scored a 76 for a 154 that left him tied with another junior campaigner, Justin Quiban, who skied to an 80.
Mondilla will be tangling with Basti Lorenzo in the first round of match play with the Alabang ace in the PAL Interclub qualifying 32nd overall after shooting an 86 for 168, the same score submitted by Alexes Nallos after a 79.
Zaragoza will take on Nallos, who ranked 31st.
Stehmeier and Quilban will tackle Ronnie Littaua and Manfred Guangco, respectively. Littaua and Guangco both finished with 167s following rounds of 87 and 84.
Andie Unson ruled the classification phase of ladies play after firing a 78 for a 152 total.
Veteran internationalist Dottie Ardina, who shot a 73 for 153, checked in second while Sarah Ababa gained the No. 3 ranking after an 82 for 156.
Mondilla, winner of this event two years ago at his home course in Del Monte, is favored to prevail over Lorenzo.