Alido takes command with 69

DAVAO, Philippines – Ira Alido has had little qualms over putting himself in the mix since missing the cut in the kickoff leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour. What concerns him is how to close out big-time and nail the elusive first win in a young pro career.

After back-to-back 69s, the 18-year-old sophomore pro found himself at the helm of the stellar field again in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here yesterday, one stroke ahead of Michael Bibat but threatened by a slew of rivals that included some of the most fancied players in the fold.

Alido, who has kept his impressive run since failing to make the grade in Cebu that saw him turn in five Top 10 finishes, including two tied for third efforts in Bacolod and at Pueblo de Oro, sustained his bogey-less card Wednesday with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 12th. He then added two more birdies against a bogey to complete a 36-33 round at the newly-opened South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates.

With a 138 aggregate, Alido went one-up over Bibat, who likewise pressed his title drive with his own version of a three-under card (33-36) for a 139 while another shot farther back at 140 was a pair of obscure bets Rico Depilo and Enrico Gallardo who sneaked into the title picture with superb rounds.

Depilo set a new course record of bogey-free 66, spiked by a second straight eagle on the par-5 No. 2.