Michael Bibat shone on an otherwise gloomy first round of the P2.5 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on Tuesday by shooting a four-under-par 66 over a Marapara course muddied by continuous rains and made a lot tougher by tricky pin placements.

“I guess I just got lucky,” the towering Bibat said after gunning down five birdies against a bogey, a round that truly stood out with only seven players cracking par and a lot struggling to break 80 over the narrow, tree-lined layout in Bacolod.

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“It’s not easy playing under these conditions—rain, wind and difficult pin positions,” Bibat, whose last title came two years ago at Eagle Ridge, said. “I’ve played in worse conditions so I’ll take that score any time.”

Angelo Que, the former PH Open champion and runner-up last week to Reymon Jaraula at nearby Binitin in Murcia town, shot a 68 like Jaraula and two others as the race for whoever wins a second leg before the season comes to a close on Friday got off in earnest.

“I’ve faced worse conditions in Japan,” Que, the reigning PH Masters champ, said after a 32-36 effort. “It’s all about keeping your focus.”

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Jaraula owns the last chance for anyone to go back-to-back this season, and the Bukidnon native got off to an ideal start after draining five birdies in his 68, which was tied with Rupert Zaragosa and Francis Morilla.

Struggling big guns

Unheralded Russell Bautista and Sean Ramos were the last two to break par, their 69s just three off the pace as the field braces for another trying second round with tropical depression Kristine not expected to ease up on Wednesday.

“Some of us are used to playing in this kind of weather,” Jaraula, who beat Que by a shot last week, said in Filipino. “We all have to adjust.”

Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk, the reigning Order of Merit champion, skied to a 75, which was three better than what fellow big gun Clyde Mondilla could turn in.

Only the top 40 scores and ties will make the cut, currently pegged at five-over. INQ