Ryoma bucks heat, ‘discomfort’ to seize ICTSI Iloilo lead

MANILA, Philippines – Playing 18 holes in a bowtie under the sweltering heat of an exacting golf course is hardly the ideal recipe for a breakthrough. Yet Miki Ryoma did just that Wednesday, shrugging off the discomfort – and seemingly everything else the Iloilo Golf and Country Club threw at him – to fire a near-flawless 66 and emerge as the bewildered leader halfway through the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge here. The 35-year-old Japanese kept his cool in conditions that tested patience and precision, matching the aggressive charge of a slew of local aces before pulling ahead by one with a clutch run of pars for a six-under 134, one stroke ahead of first-round leader Jhonnel Ababa. “I hit all fairways, reached all greens and made five birdies against one bogey,” said the amiable Ryoma, whose assessment underscored the key to surviving the par-70 layout: “The most important thing on this course is the tee shot.” His performance was all the more remarkable considering the heat that replaced the stiff winds of the opening round, without making the course any less demanding. Tough pin placements, tight fairways, thick rough and slick greens continued to punish even the slightest lapse. Ryoma, however, stayed within himself. While...