Tour top guns start chase of Masters crown

MANILA, Philippines — The ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters unwraps today with a highly anticipated showdown among the top guns at the spruced-up Villamor Golf Club.

Defending champion Jhonnel Ababa aims for a consecutive title, while Guido van der Valk seeks redemption and both Clyde Mondilla and Lloyd Go are determined to secure their second victories on the Philippine Golf Tour.

Last year, Ababa narrowly edged out Van der Valk and Joenard Rates by a single stroke, showcasing the level of competition on a course that requires strategic thinking.

In the Ladies Philippine Masters, Pauline del Rosario is poised to overcome the challenges of long-distance travel as she vies for the coveted crown.

Fresh off her Epson Tour campaign, Del Rosario took the earliest flight from Utah to compete in this week’s championship, the fourth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. She aims for redemption after narrowly missing her title defense at Caliraya Springs last April, where she finished two strokes behind the formidable Harmie Constantino.