Concepcion leads by a shot after firing 64 at Sta. Barbara

Fidel Concepcion: Seven opening round birdies —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Fidel Concepcion, by his own words, has had a feel of this before. And also by his own words, knows what to do in the next three days.

“I’ve been in this situation before, and I hope to hang on this time and do a little better.” Concepcion said after shooting a six-under-par 64 to lead the P2.5 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge and get his latest bid to notch a maiden pro win off to a great start.

Concepcion drained seven total birdies at the age-old Sta. Barbara layout in Iloilo with the big guns breathing down his neck after Guido van der Valk returned a 65, Aira Alido a 66 and three players led by Antonio Lascuña shooting 67s to be just three strokes off.

Moving forward

Defending champion Rupert Zaragosa also fired a 67 with former PH Open winner Angelo Que lurking another shot back even after shooting a double bogey 6 at No. 2 and back-to-back dropped shots from No. 15.

Concepcion’s performance was a lot better compared to the last leg of the circuit at Forest Hills where he missed the cut.

“I went back to basics, tried to brush it off, and move forward,” Concepcion said.

Even with Sta. Barbara—believed to be the oldest course in the Far East after being established in 1907—playing just over 6,000 yards, only 17 players managed to break par with former PH Masters champ Jessie Balasabas and the multititled Jay Bayron shooting 70s.

“It’s an old-style course, but very challenging,” Van der Valk, who signed for seven birdies against two bogeys, said. “Mentally, I need to be strong because anything can happen.”

Lascuña, the 54-year-old playing out of Manila Southwoods, closed out birdie-birdie to get into the mix. INQ