Young Chan catches eye of Asiad bronze winner Bibat

Michael Bibat played with Aidric Chan for the first time and was so impressed with the rising local pro star that it brought out the best in him. And after the first 18 holes of the P2 million ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge that was played under a mix of rain and sunshine in Murcia town on Tuesday, the 40-year-old convinced himself of two things.

“I saw for myself how good of a player he has become,” Bibat told the Inquirer over the phone after a bogey-free round, referring to flightmate Chan, with whom he grabbed a share of a one-shot lead after both carved out six-under-par 64s over the tight, tree-lined layout formerly known as Binitin.

Meanwhile, South Korean Seo Yun Kim fired a 66 and took a three-shot lead over Daniella Uy and Kristine Fleetwood after the opening round of the 54-hole, P750,000 ladies championship.

“I also got validation that I can still play with the younger set of players—the up-and-coming stars of our game,” he added in Filipino.

Spiked with eagle

“It’s nice to see the younger guys playing really well. I know that our circuit is in good hands. He inspired me today to dig deep.”

A former bronze medal winner in the Asian Games, Bibat splits time between playing on tour and teaching. “I have three kids in the family to support,” he said.

He said Chan, who spiked his round with an eagle 3 on No. 15 which also came with five birdies and a bogey, is one of the young players on the circuit who is a complete package.

“He’s got it all—power, short game, putting, you name it,” Bibat, who was very close to the departed former national team ace Alex Prieto, said of Chan. “I didn’t see a weakness in his game out there today.”

Aside from Bibat, there is only one other relatively senior player in the top 10, Randy Garalde, who fired a 65, with young amateur Bobe Salahog shooting a 66 like American Colin Wheeler to be two shots off the pace.

Keanu Jahns, Ryan Lam, Ryan Monsalve, Sean Ramos and Michael John Uy all shot 67s to be one ahead of a seven-man group that shot a 68 led by the veteran Jonel Ababa.

Bibat just couldn’t say enough of how well the young guns have turned out to be. He even said that because of Chan’s brilliant all-around game “he will continue winning a lot of tournaments outside of the country.”

But with the way he played the first round, and given the confidence boost that he got when he held his ground, Bibat is also convinced that he can still hold off some of the young guns for the rest of the week. INQ