Eagle guides Salvador to Philippine Open lead

LIPA CITY - Elmer Salvador put on a clinic by shooting a splendid eagle-guided nine-under-par 63 to open up a three-stroke lead over reigning champion Angelo Que and unheralded Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands in the 93rd Philippine Open held at the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club. Salvador quickly got off to a good start with birdies at the fifth (eight-foot) and sixth (16th) and another six-footer at the Mt. Lobo course. He buried a beauty on No. 11 from eight feet then came up with a 24-footer on No. 12 for another birdie. The Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner scrambled a bit on the 15th but sank the birdie just the same. Still feeling it, the 39-year-old Davao shot-maker placed a 172-yarder to within one-and-a-half feet from the cup with a wonderful seven-iron approach for that eagle. He capped the round with a birdie on the last hole. That 63, however, was just a shot from the 10-under-par 62 of Australian Jason Dawes, who made the course record at Mt. Malarayat in the same tournament organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP). "I hope to continue this game in the next three rounds. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na," said a beaming Salvador to GMANews.TV. Salvador, a former tee-boy at the Apo Golf Club, continues to make waves in the professional scene. He garnered two triumphs this season and was the top earner in the ICTSI pro tour with winnings of more than P700,000. Que, the reigning RP Open champion, did not do bad with a six-under-par 66, to end in a tie with Guido for second in the P2.5-million event. "There were some good putts and there were some bad ones. Pin placements today were not easy to adjust with easily," said Que, who consider fellow Asian Tour stars Frankie Miñoza, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay and Artemio Murakami as top contenders. Guido, the 29-year-old Asian Tour campaigner, was among the early finishers as he turned in a bogey-free, six-under 66. He carded consecutive birdies would have been only two down had he made the eight-foot eagle putt which stopped within inches from the cup. Carito Villaroman, Michael Bibat and Richard Sinfuego all made 68s while Joenard Rates, Cookie La’O and amateur Jessie Balasabas submitted 69s. Murakami had a 70 and local bet Orlan Sumcad, Cassius Casas, Ernie Rellon and rookie Ferdie Aunzo each shot a 71. Miñoza, who will turn 50 on Dec. 29, managed a one-over 73, the same score of Jun Bernis, Tonight Fernando, Jomar Pepito and junior golfer Miguel Tabuena. He joked around after the game and said: “Mahirap na talaga makalaban ang mga bata." Still, one can’t count out the possibility of him getting this third RP Open championship. Meanwhile, pro Jomar Pepito teamed up beautifully with amateurs Tony Pernez, Glenn Vasquez and Abe Avena to a best ball score of 55 to win the Division I title in the pro-am side event. Que and partners Pablo Soon, Col. Katy Katigbak and Hanson So, Sr. combined for 57 to place second. The Division II crown went to the squad of Omar Dungca (pro) with Ogie Caja and Edwin Hernandez while the Division III tiara was copped by Salvador (pro) with Manolo Agojo, Emy Arcilla and Joe Mercado. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV