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LIPA
CITY—Riding the crest of a maiden pro victory at the
Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines last month, Thai star
Wisut Artjanawat displayed awesome shot-making to score
a five-under-par 67 at the start of the rain-drenched
ICTSI-Mount Malarayat Championship on Wednesday.
Hot on
the Thai’s trail was Rogelio “Cookie” La’O.
Winless in six years on the professional tour, he turned
in a four-under 68 to jump-start his bid for a
career-breakthrough victory and lead the host country’s
charge in the $50,000 (P2 million) third leg of the
Mercedes-Benz Tour.
Wisut, a
brilliant amateur who won the individual title in the
2005 Putra Cup, flourished with a bogey-free round
spiked by five birdies, three in the front nine and two
at the back for the 68 despite the toughened conditions
at the all-weather Mount Malarayat’s Malipunyo and Lobo
courses.
His 67,
though, was still way off the record 62 posted by
Australian Jason Dawes in the 2005 Philippine Open.
“Nice start for me, but it is too early to tell what
will happen,” Wisut said.
The
33-year-old La’O, whose best pro finish was eighth at
the Philippine Open in 2007, had a near-flawless round,
with five birdies and a bogey at the par-five fourth
hole. His 69 tied him with Thai Atthaphon Prathummanee
at second.
La’O, in
fact, was a monster with the short irons because all his
birdies were well within five feet to the cup, with the
17th a mere tap-in. The only red mark happened on the
fifth hole, when his third shot fell short of the green.
“I’ve
been playing great golf lately although my driving
wasn’t good yesterday. But my short game clicked,” La’O
told the BusinessMirror.
Rufino
“Baybay” Bayron, with six birdies and two bogeys,
likewise, churned out a 68 to emerge as the best amateur
player yesterday.
Rookie
ICTSI pro Mike Bibat and lesser-known Omar Dungca
matched par with three-under-par 69s to be at third with
Nakul Vichitryutthasastr and Namchok Tantipokakul of
Thailand.
Five
Filipinos—Angelo Que, Jay Bayron, Marvin Dumandan,
Ebarra Quiachon and Kevin Tayao—were bunched at ninth
place after a two-under-par 70.
Que,
leader of the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit who also
is priming himself for the British Open next week, hit
five birdies against three bogeys. He isn’t taking
things here lightly, as he is focusing on a win also to
boost his British debut at the Open.
“Every
tournament I feel excited. Of course, my focus is this
week’s event, then the Open at Royal Birkdale next
week,” Que said.
Bayron,
also of ICTSI, described his round of 35-35 as a
roller-coaster ride. In each hole he made a birdie, he
produced a bogey on the next.
It was a
good thing he eagled the par-five No. 17 that put him
among the top Filipino performers yesterday.
“The
continuous downpour got in the way, not only for me, but
for the rest of the players as reflected in the
scoreboard. It was tough out there,” said Bayron.
Mars
Pucay, last year’s winner here, made a 71 to be at 14th
in the company of Danny Zarate, Jun Bernis, Freddie
Baligasa, Randy Garalde, Orlan Sumcad, Rey Pagunsan,
amateur Jhonel Ababa and Thais Pravee Visalkit and
Passamet Pokamnerd. |
