FOURTEEN years of waiting have brought Art Arbole to a place he has long dreamed of reaching: the top of a Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard with a championship within sight.
Arbole took a major step toward ending that long title drought Tuesday, producing a personal-best 36-hole total and a bogey-free 67 to seize solo control at the halfway mark of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
For the second straight day, the short but tricky layout yielded to Arbole’s steady all-around game. More importantly, the performance gave the journeyman his first outright lead after two rounds – a position that carried both promise and pressure as the tournament heads into the pivotal final 36 holes.
“This is the first time that I was able to lead in two days. My game continues to come together – driving, irons and putting,” said Arbole, his eyes betraying the excitement of a player who knows how close he is to a long-awaited breakthrough.
“I just need to stay focused day-to-day. As long as everything comes together,” added Arbole, who overcame a double bogey in the opening round with an eagle and five birdies to share the lead with Jhonnel Ababa at 65.
Now, with two rounds still to play, Arbole is refusing to look beyond the next shot.
“Just until Thursday. Just repeat what you did in the first two days,” he kept telling himself as motivation.
“Just focus on shots that won’t get into trouble. I’ll do my very best in the last two days,” said Arbole, who missed three birdie putts but made four scrambling pars at the back.
“The back nine of Marapara is really tough,” added Arbole, who turned pro in 2012 with a career-best Top 5 finish.
