DAVAO City – Obscure but unflinching, rookie pro Jeffren Lumbo stole the spotlight from a field of seasoned campaigners with a brilliant five-under 67 to seize the first-round lead in the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estate here on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Mixing power with precision on a course that humbled even the tour’s biggest names, the 29-year-old from Sarangani turned in a poised and confident performance that left his more accomplished rivals scrambling to keep pace.
With veterans Jhonnel Ababa and Reymon Jaraula matching steady 70s and returning Keanu Jahns opening with a 71 to join a big group of pursuers, Lumbo carved a three-stroke cushion heading into the second round of the P3.5 million Philippine Golf Tour event – an early but significant statement from a player many barely knew before the week began.
Just a shot behind Jahns’ pack were Guido van der Valk and three others at 72, while seven more, including James Ryan Lam, opened with 73s – setting the stage for what could be another tight, down-to-the-wire finish come Friday.
The South Pacific layout again proved unforgiving, yielding only 11 under-par cards under erratic weather, making Lumbo’s 67 stand out as a round of rare control and composure.
“Hindi ko po ini-expect na mag-lead kasi madaming magagaling dito. Nag-enjoy lang ako sa laro ko,” said Lumbo, who leaned on his power off the tee and a hot putter to birdie Nos. 12 and 18, both par-5s, before closing with three birdies in his last six holes.
“Nag-click ang putting kaya naka-score. Mahirap kasi ang green, hindi mo alam saan pupunta ang bola. Mabuti na lang sinuwerte ako,” he added.
It wasn’t Lumbo’s first flash of brilliance. He made quite a stir at Forest Hills last June, opening with the same 67 and finishing fifth after a final-round 66. After a brief break from competition, he returned fresh and focused – clearly ready to seize the moment.
Still, the chasers are no pushovers. Ababa, chasing an end to a season-long drought, birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to stay within striking distance. Jaraula, meanwhile, recovered from an up-and-down frontside with clutch birdies on Nos. 12 and 16 to rekindle his bid for a second career crown after ruling his home leg in Del Monte.
“Medyo masama palo ko sa Apo pero dito maganda. Sana magtuloy-tuloy,” said Ababa, who last won via playoff over van der Valk at Apo last year. “Mahirap lang ang green dito.”
Jaraula, for his part, credited improved putting after a frustrating week in Apo.
“Sa Apo hindi maganda ang putting, hindi tumatama. Pero after practice, medyo naka-adjust na dito,” he said. “Wala naman ako gaanong expectations, basta laro lang at enjoy.”
Jahns, a two-leg winner this season, birdied two of his first nine holes but bogeyed the 13th to settle for a one-under card alongside Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Ryan Monsalve, American Collin Wheeler, Korean Jaehyun Jung, and Fil-Australian Fidel Concepcion.
Concepcion, fresh from his maiden win at Apo, was poised for another strong finish before stumbling with a double bogey on the last hole to fall four strokes off Lumbo.
Meanwhile, van der Valk slipped out of the 71 group with a closing bogey to finish with a 72, sharing 122th place with Russell Bautista, Arnold Villacencio and John Michael Uy.
Among the notable names, Angelo Que and Clyde Mondilla both struggled to sustain solid starts. Que fired early birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 but faded on the back nine with a six-over stretch capped by a double-bogey on the par-3 15th for a 76. Mondilla stumbled early as well, offsetting mid-round birdies with costly errors to post a 75.
Still, the day – and the headlines – belonged to Lumbo, who showed poise beyond his rookie status by mastering a demanding layout with length, accuracy and a confident touch on the greens.
