Big three-birdie windup gives Rates Eagle Ridge lead

Diminutive Joenard Rates birdied three of his last five holes on Tuesday to complete an eagle-aided three-under-par 69 and be the unlikely leader after the opening round of the P2 million ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge at the complex’ Aoki course in General Trias, Cavite.

Rates was working on a roller-coaster round going to the fifth tee—his 14th hole of the day—where he caught fire, as he put his approaches close and nailed the putts to take the limelight away from the big guns seeing action in the PGT’s third tournament in the last five months.

Michael Bibat carved out a 70 and Rufino Bayron was the last player with a sub-par card, a 71, as wind, rain and the heat helped bedevil a talented field that has been itching for tournament action since March last year when the COVID-19 pandemic put sports in the country in disarray.

Former Philippine Open champions Angelo Que, Miguel Tabuena and Frankie Minoza all struggled, with Tabuena shooting a 73, and Que and Minoza returning 76s.

Clyde Mondilla, the Del Monte ace playing his first tournament in more than a year, skied to an 85, even as Antonio Lascuna, who won a leg at Riviera during the PGT restart last November, turned in an 80 like reigning PH Masters champion Jessie Balasabas.

American Lexus Keoninh matched par to be in the company of Zannie Boy Gialon, Paul Echavez and Nilo Salahog.