Justin Quiban returned an eagle-spiked six-under-par 65 for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic on Thursday to pace a leaderboard that had none of the traditional big guns within striking distance.

The long hitter playing in Antipolo because of a break in the Asian Tour, also had five birdies against a bogey on the 12th to be a shot ahead of Tom Marcelo and Guido van der Valk of The Netherlands, with defending champion Keanu Jahns another stroke back, like rookie Jeff Lumbo.

It was not actually the kind of game that Quiban expected to churn out, being unfamiliar with the Jack Nicklaus layout, but with his game “trending in the right direction,” the 29-year-old got his bid for a fourth Philippine Golf Tour title off on the right foot.

“I didn’t really expect to lead, but my game has been trending in the right direction,” said Quiban. “I just committed to every shot and trusted my game. The outcome just happened to put me in the lead.”

Angelo Que, who is also on a break from the Asian Tour, stumbled with a 73, while Antonio Lascuña signed for a 76 and would need a truly big second round to matter in the final two days.

Clyde Mondilla, another former PH Open champion like Que, struggled to shoot a 72 despite starting par-birdie-birdie, to be seven shots down, even as multileg winner Zanie Boy Gialon and Jonel Ababa fired a 73 and 76, respectively.

Meanwhile, the lesser lights took control of the 54-hole ladies championship with Kristine Fleetwood and Kayla Nocum churning out 70s to be one shot ahead of Mafy Singson and two in front of the dangerous duo of Princess Superal and Chanelle Avaricio.

Fleetwood also had an eagle that came on the par-5 16th off a 5-iron second shot to within six feet. And she admits to being the first one surprised to be leading her first pro event. INQ