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January 24, 2025 | 4:32pm
This handout from the Asian Tour taken and released on November 26, 2021 shows Justin Quiban of the Philippines gesturing after playing a shot during round two of the Blue Canyon Championship golf tournament at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket.
Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour / AFP
CARMONA, Cavite – Justin Quiban stormed back into the spotlight with a sensational solid six-under 64, propelling himself into strong contention halfway through the Philippine Open at Manila Southwoods here on Friday.
The resilient effort underscored the determination of the one-time PGA Tour campaigner, who bounced back after an inconsistent start on Thursday, where he battled both the wind and the sleek greens to card a disappointing 73.
Quiban's remarkable second-round effort featured two birdies on the back nine (Nos. 11 and 18) where he teed off, and two more at the front (Nos. 2 and 7) before gunning down an eagle on the par-5 eighth. His performance elevated him from a tie for 60th to a provisional seventh place at three-under 137, just three strokes behind clubhouse leader Micah Shin.
The Korean-American, whose game flourished in Davao, surged to the top with a brilliant 65, highlighted by seven birdies that erased two bogeys. His 33-32 card lifted him to the top on a six-under total of 134.
Making the most of near-ideal morning conditions, Shin, winner of the 2018 The Country Club Invitational, strung together five birdies over a seven-hole stretch starting from the eighth. After a misstep on the 15th, he finished strong with a birdie on the last hole, showcasing power and accuracy with 11 fairways and 15 greens hit in regulation.
He capped his stellar round with just 28 putts, including a crucial par save on No. 4.
Meanwhile, Quiban, a three-time winner on the PGT and a 2021 qualifier for the PGA Tour’s 3M Open, delivered a remarkably consistent performance. He missed only one fairway and hit all greens in regulation. However, he needed 31 putts, missing several birdie opportunities that could have brought him closer to Shin's lead.
While Quiban rekindled local hopes, several Filipino contenders faltered.
Sean Ramos, briefly tied for the lead at six-under after a four-birdie surge on the back nine, stumbled on the front nine with three bogeys, carding a 70 for a two-under total of 138. Meanwhile, pre-tournament favorites Angelo Que, Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuña struggled to recover from sluggish starts, sliding further down the leaderboard.
Rianne Malixi, the lone female competitor, opened her second round with a bogey on No. 10, falling to six-over for the tournament after a first-round 75.
Australian Aaron Wilkin, despite a slower second round of 69, remained in contention at five-under 135, while compatriots Travis Smyth and Kevin Yuan joined South African Ian Snyman at four-under 136 after matching 66s.
As the championship heads into the weekend, Quiban’s resurgence promises an exciting battle for the $500,000 purse, with players jostling for position and seeking to capitalize on scoring opportunities at the demanding Masters layout.
Erstwhile solo leader Sadom Kaewkanjana was still on the course at press time, along with the remaining half of the original 144-player field, which had been reduced to 141 after three players withdrew or retired for various reasons.
