Splendido tilt tees off: Mondilla man to beat

CLYDE Mondilla has all the momentum he needs to win back-to-back titles in the Philippine Golf Tour for the second time this season as he comes into today’s ICTSI Splendido Classic as the logical player to beat in Tagaytay.

Coming off a playoff victory over Orlan Sumcad at Mount Malarayat last week, Mondilla will be slugging it out with practically the same field he conquered in Lipa as big guns Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que will be playing in the Omega Masters in Switzerland.

Antonio Lascuña also has some momentum going, shooting four-under-par 68s in the last two rounds at Malarayat to salvage a top five finish.

Lascuña is in prime position to nail down the Order of Merit title for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and finishing strong here would give him the cushion over Mondilla and Jay Bayron heading into the final two stops.

Bayron finished third last week and missed out on winning three straight. He is definitely one of the players to watch at Splendido, which requires precise approaches and well-placed drives.

Mondilla’s first two titles this season also came off back-to-back style, and his win on Saturday was the second time via a playoff, with the first happening at the Manila Masters in Eastridge over fancied rookie Jobim Carlos.

Carlos will be in the fold this week, together with the legendary Frankie Miñoza and several past Philippine Open champions like Cassius Casas, Robert Pactolerin and Elmer Salvador.

Rufino Bayron, Jay’s younger brother who has been in the championship mix practically every tournament but has found it difficult to pool together four consistent rounds, will also be seeing action.  Musong R. Castillo