Golf: Guido Van Der Valk stays in front of Clyde Mondilla

By Waylon Galvez

STA. ROSA, Laguna – Guido Van Der Valk of The Netherlands finished with a three-over par 75  Friday to keep a two-shot lead on Philippine Cup champion Clyde Mondilla entering the final round of The Country Club Invitational at the TCC here.

Guido Van Der Valk started his round with a bogey on 3, but an eagle on 8 put him at even par for the tournament.

However, that was the highlight of his round as he bogeyed four of the next 10, including 14 and 18 for the second day in this event put up by ICTSI president and chairman Ricky Razon in 2003.

The 40-year-old Dutch, who is now based in Cebu, also bogeyed on 9 and 11.

“I made a few, couple of mistakes. You can make mistakes on this golf course, because the golf course is hard enough. So you got to make bogeys,” said Van Der Valk.

“I missed so many birdie putts. But then again Clyde and Tony made the same things. It was hard with the wind blowing right straight, and then having to read the lines.”

There’s absolutely no planning on this golf course,” said Van Der Valk. “It’s just trying to hit as good as you can and see what your score would be.”

Van Der Valk now has a three-day total of 220, four over in this P5 million event that gives the winner P1.5 million and the bragging rights as the inaugural champion for the 2020 season of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT).

For his part, Mondilla held on to second place as he matched Van Der Valk’s 75.

The native of Bukidnon mixed his rounds with birdies on 1, 8 and 10, and bogeys on 2, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 18 – which matched his six during the opening round of the event.

Five shots off the leader is Jay Bayron, who had a 76 for a total of 224 for solo third, ahead of former TCC champion Tony Lascuña with 225, and former amateur stalwart Rupert Zaragosa with 226.

Keanu Jahns is at solo seventh with a 228, Jhonnel Ababa, Michael Bibat and Reymon Jaraula share eighth to 11th places with Spain’s Marcos Pastor all with 229.

Tied for 12th to 13th are Ferdie Aunzo and Zanieboy Gialon with 231, and former TCC champion Frankie Miñoza is at 14 with 234.

Source: Manila Bulletin