Angelo Que and Daniella Uy—PHOTOS COURTESY OF PGT
LUBAO, Pampanga—Daniella Uy and Angelo Que knew that the Pinatubo course at Pradera Verde would test every part of their game. And after Monday’s opening round of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship, they both found themselves in similar positions—holding three-shot leads but wary of what lay ahead.
“It’s all about strategy,” said Que, a three-time Asian Tour champion who methodically worked his way around the windswept layout to card a four-under-par 68. “When I played the Pro-Am on Sunday, I focused on identifying the right spots to miss on tough holes. If you miss it in the right place, you can still manage to save par.”
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Que made five birdies against a lone bogey, leaning on his experience to read the tricky greens and avoid the deep bunkers that have already claimed several victims in the men’s tournament.
READ: Flawless Angelo Que forges three-way tie for lead at Binitin
“I putted better than most today, even sinking putts I usually miss,” he added.
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Uy, playing in the women’s division, also navigated the unpredictable Pinatubo course with patience and precision. She made a strong move with three consecutive birdies from No. 12 and finished with a 68, despite a closing bogey that prevented her from widening the gap.
“I shortened my swing for better accuracy and timing,” Uy said. “I also worked a lot on my putting inside three feet, which had been a weakness in the past.”
Rising star Tiffany Lee lurks three shots back at 71, showing flashes of brilliance early in her round with a three-under 34 on the front nine. But a long wait at the turn disrupted her rhythm, leading to a costly double bogey at No. 10.
Aggressive play
“I felt I had the course figured out, but the long wait on No. 10 disrupted my rhythm,” she said. “Tomorrow, I just need to stay patient, keep my shots in play, and take advantage of the scoring opportunities.”
In the men’s tournament, Keanu Jahns, Jung Jae-hyun, Carl Corpus and Christopher Popp all finished with 71s. Jahns, known for his aggressive play, had to adjust to the course’s demands after a tough start that saw him bogey No. 2 and double-bogey No. 3.
He clawed his way back with four birdies, including three on the par-5s.
The Pinatubo course, designed to challenge even the best players, has proven itself an unpredictable battleground.
Uy and Que have control for now, but they know better than to feel comfortable.
“I’ll stick to my game plan—play safe, have fun and trust the process,” Uy said.
And for Que, experience tells him one thing: “The wind’s going to be a factor, and this course can surprise you. It’s far from over.”