Murakami sets new course record, leads TCC invitational

MANILA, Philippines — Artemio Murakami literally killed the opposition on Thursday when he set a new course record of eight-under-par 62 in The Country Club Invitational in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. The 25-year-old Asian Tour regular had nine birdies and one bogey at the short par-70 TCC layout (par-72 is the normal length) for that 62, which broke the old mark of 64 set by Juvic Pagunsan during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. Angelo Que, a former winner, finished with an eagle-aided three-under-par 70 to stay afloat. Rey Pagunsan, Jay Bayron and amateur Rufino Bayron are lurking behind with two-under 68s while defending champion Juvic Pagunsan opened his title retention bid with a one-under 69. Murakami canned successive birdies from inside four feet that setup for even more as his game progressed. After three pars in regulations, the Filipino-Japanese began a three-birdie binge on Nos. 7 to 9 which gave him an excellent five-under at the turn. “I am very happy to have this kind of a game. It’s my first time to have a course record," Murakami said. The 2007 Iskandar Johor Open champion continued to sizzle at the back nine with three straight birdies beginning from a 15-foot putt on No. 11. His second shot went over the green on No. 14, a potential birdie which he lost in the process. Still, he remained unfazed as he gunned down another birdie on the 15th, the last for the day, before committing a bogey-blunder on the 16th after he missed the green completely. “Once in a while, players of our caliber can really shoot low scores like what I did today. It comes naturally. It was fortunate that it happened to me in a major tournament such as this," Murakami said. Que, whose highlight was an eagle on No. 14 from two feet, matched Murakami’s score in the last nine but was slowed down by little mistakes. He started with a birdie but followed with a bogey on the next hole. He ended with four birdies and two bogeys. “I am satisfied except for a drive and a few putts. I am disappointed, though, with myself because I kept doing things I am not supposed to do," said Que. The revered Frankie Minoza, who despite the weight loss still packs a lot of power in his drives, carded a two-over 72 on nines of 35-37. He was adrift from the leader in the chase for the P1.35-million top prize from the P6.4-million total purse. “I am still around and in the thick of the fight. I’ll try to make the cut tomorrow and see what happens in the last two rounds," Minoza said. – GMANews.TV