Clyde Mondilla faces acid test at TCC

MANILA, Philippines — Clyde Mondilla returns to the scene of his biggest triumph, upbeat but wary of his chances against a crack field and a tough course when The Country Club Invitational is fired off tomorrow in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. 

Three weeks after besting a stellar international field to score a Solaire Philippine Open breakthrough, the reticent Del Monte ace sets out for another four days of test of will and wits at the demanding TCC layout, taking on a select 29-player field he has beaten in the Open.

But he believes no one holds a distinct advantage at the Tom Weiskoph-designed layout whose character changes in every swirl and twirl of the wind.

Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que both have three TCC Invitational titles under their belt but the veteran Japan PGA Tour campaigners have found the course tougher and more challenging after it underwent refurbishment for two years in 2015-16.

Pagunsan, in fact, missed the cut in the Open and though Que advanced to the final 36 holes of the country’s premier championship, the power-hitting shotmaker never got a good shot at the crown given the wicked, hot playing conditions the last time out.

The two, however, hope to relive their glory days at TCC with Pagunsan out to snap a two-tournament slump and Que seeking to rebound from a missed cut stint in Japan last weekend.