Pros face new test at Forest Hills-Nicklaus

THE touring pros get to grips with a challenge far more daunting than the one they dealt with the last time out as they swing back to Antipolo for the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship on June 20 to 23 at one of the two championship courses of the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club.

The par-72 Nicklaus side, the other being the Palmer layout, underwent refurbishment since it last hosted the Philippine Golf Tour in 2016-17 and has been kept in championship condition all-year long, making it A-ready for both the P2 million men’s tournament and the P750,000 Ladies PGT.

“The club has redone/rebuilt six greens (Nos. 1, 3, 9, 11, 14 and 18),” said Forest Hills general manager Raymond Bunquin, adding they were returned to their original sizes, most score heading to the last 18 holes of the two-day stroke play eliminations.

And given her talent and skills set, the ICTSI-backed shotmaker expects to get back to business although it will require some adjustments, starting with her long game that often found the tall grasses of Prince’s, approach shots that sometimes miss their targets, and putting that led to a threeputt miscue on No. 3, at least three missed par-save bids inside 8 feet, and seven flubbed birdie chances.

She, however, pulled off a couple of up-and-down pars on her way to a 38-41 round marred by bogeys on Nos. 1, notably the closing hole, which used to feature a bunker in the middle.

He stressed that all the works were carefully planned and recommended by the grounds committee, headed by Forest Hills chairman Bob Sobrepeña, and with the guidance of course architect John Cope of the Nicklaus Group.

“Forest Hills presents a challenge that needs all the shots in the book. A demanding shotmaker’s course where even the pros can’t take any hole easy,” said Bunquin.

While he admits accent will be on power in some holes, precision and accuracy are the biggest factors to produce good scores, adding: “The pros need to know where and when to gamble. A small miss can lead to a huge score.”

Reymon Jaraula turned what was ex-

3, 7, 10 and 17 and double bogeys on Nos. 13 and 18, which she both reached in 4.

There were quite a few, however, who survived the ordeal on a course characterized by uneven fairways, deep roughs and small, deep bunkers and made more exacting by the howling winds that affect the style of each player’s play.

Ohma, for one, tamed the frontside with a solid five-under 31 and was on her way to taking solo control with two more birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 against a bogey on the 13th until she lost her rhythm and poise and bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 for a 68.

That enabled Eisenbeiss to gain a share of the lead as she came through with a three birdie-binge in a four-hole stretch from No. 12 en route to a bogey-free 35-33 and a one-stroke lead over Aussie Beth Coulter and three others, who matched 69s.

World No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad of Swede also groped for form with a 73 for a share of 19th, well within the Top 64, who will move to the knockout, match play phase Thursday.

Malixi, 16, hopes to make the most of the switch in teetimes as she resumes her bid at 7:51 a.m. with Japanese Sera Hasegawa and Swede Kajsa Arwefjall, who opened with 73 and 75,

Vanessa de Jesus