Zanieboy Gialon put himself in position towards winning a sixth career Philippine Golf Tour title after a third round four-under-par 66 gave him a two-shot lead over close friend Jonel Ababa heading into the final round of the P2.5-million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at Sta. Barbara.
He is also 18 good holes away from snapping a title drought that spans two years, or since he ruled the Lake Caliraya stop in 2022.
And in taking a 54-hole 199 total into Friday’s final round, Gialon said that he doesn’t feel any pressure in closing things out.
“For me, my opponent is the course, not Jonel (Ababa) and not anyone else,” Gialon told the Inquirer in Filipino. “If I start thinking of those players giving chase, then that’s the time that I will feel the pressure.
“I will just have fun out there (Friday) and if the good Lord happens to bless me, I would be very grateful.”
Ababa fired a 67 and the two Davao natives effectively dropped two-day leader Fidel Concepcion deep in third spot, with the 28-year-old, who returned a 72, now four shots off the lead after starting the day two shots ahead of Gialon.
“Things didn’t go as planned today,” Concepcion said. “I just wasn’t able to execute the shots I wanted, especially off the tees.”
Reymon Jaraula returned a 68 and caught Concepcion at 203, with Ira Alido, Dino Villanueva and Antonio Lascuña six shots off the pace after firing 68, 68 and 70, in that order.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ababa won her second title of the season despite a wobbly 76 as she nipped Chihiro Ikeda, wo also fired a 76, by a shot in the P1-million ladies’ event.
Mafy Singson shot a 68 to catch Mikha Fortuna (70) for third another shot back.