ILOILO — Miki Ryoma moved to the top of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge leaderboard Wednesday after producing a six-under-par 66 in the second round at Iloilo Golf and Country Club here.
The Japanese veteran completed 36 holes at 10-under 134, edging opening-round leader Jhonnel Ababa by one stroke in the P2.5 million tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Ryoma delivered one of the day’s best rounds despite the intense heat, hitting every fairway and green in regulation while making five birdies against one bogey.
“I hit all fairways, reached all greens and made five birdies against one bogey,” Ryoma said, emphasizing the importance of staying in position off the tee. “The most important thing on this course is the tee shot.”
The 35-year-old Saitama native relied heavily on his driver, using it 10 times as he attacked a course featuring narrow fairways, thick rough and challenging greens.
“I didn’t play steady in the first round but hit it solid today. But you really have to be in the fairway to get a chance to make birdies,” he said.
Ryoma began the day outside the lead but steadily climbed the leaderboard. He briefly lost momentum with a three-putt bogey on No. 13 before recovering with a string of pars and later adding birdies on Nos. 3 and 5.
He admitted he was unaware that his score had put him at the top.
“I didn’t know I’m in the top during the round, so I didn’t feel any pressure. I just wanted to play good on this course,” Ryoma said.
Ababa, who led after the opening round, dropped to second after signing for a 68 and a 135 total. He opened with a bogey and endured eight consecutive pars on the front nine before finding his rhythm later in the round.
“Sobrang hirap ng course at sobrang init. Hindi mo talaga masasabi kung gaganda ang score mo sa isang araw,” Ababa said.
The former Order of Merit winner added that he became more conservative toward the end after struggling with his tee shot.
“Sa bandang dulo, medyo nag-play safe ako dahil hindi maganda ang tee shot,” he said, while noting that his putting remained a positive part of his game.
Ira Alido made the biggest jump among the contenders, firing a 65 to reach 136 and move into a share of third place with Reymon Jaraula and Clyde Mondilla.
Alido recovered from an early bogey on No. 2 by producing six birdies over the next 16 holes.
Jaraula and Mondilla both finished at 68. Jaraula suffered a double bogey on No. 13 and another bogey before recovering with a birdie on No. 17.
Mondilla started strongly with four birdies on the front nine but gave back two shots over the final four holes.
Art Arbole remained within striking distance as he followed his breakthrough ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic victory with a 67. He reached four-under with two holes remaining but bogeyed No. 8 before making par on the closing hole to finish at 137.
Arbole shared seventh place with Francis Morilla and Rupert Zaragosa.
Kristoffer Arevalo led the group at 138 after also carding a 67. James Ryan Lam, Jeffren Lumbo and Justin Quiban joined him at the same total.
Quiban bounced back from an opening 72 with a 66, making five birdies over his final 13 holes after a bogey on No. 14.
Lumbo, last week’s runner-up in Negros, posted another 69, while Lam also finished with a 69 after a late double bogey briefly derailed his challenge.
Ryoma, meanwhile, is looking to turn his strong start into his first Philippine Golf Tour title. His best result in four PGT starts this season was a tie for 18th in Negros Occidental./PN
