Ababa takes clubhouse lead with a 70

Jhonnel Ababa blasts his way out of the bunker.

SILANG, Cavite—Jhonnel Ababa stumbled at the finish and settled for a one-under 70 and a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Juvic Pagunsan and four others after the morning play in the ICTSI Riviera Golf Challenge here yesterday.

Starting out strong with three birdies in the first five holes, Ababa had the tight, hazard-laden Langer course all figured out until he lost his touch in the stretch, bogeying two of the last four for a 32-38.

With half of the 115-player starting field still playing at press time, Ababa took the provisional lead, one ahead of Pagunsan, who failed to get going on a course that suits his game.

Pagunsan gunned down three birdies but had the same number of bogeys. The smooth-swinging Japan PGA Tour campaigner and Asia’s former No. 1 is expected to press his bid in the second round of the $100,000-championship that serves as a tuneup for the Solaire Philippine Open at The Country Club next week.