Taiwan's Lu, 5 others share first round lead in $300K PHL Open

MANDALUYONG—Chinese Taipei’s Lu Tze-shyan played true to form that rendered the usually demanding East course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club into a relatively easy layout en route to a three-under-par 69 to share the opening round lead with five others in the ICTSI-Philippine Open.   Japan’s Azuma Yano, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, and Americans Matthew Rosenfeld, Anthony Kang and Ben Fox join Lu atop the leader board. They enjoy a one-shot advantage over three Filipinos, headed by veteran Frankie Miñoza.   Miñoza relieved his glory days at the back side where he shot a splendid four birdies in the last seven holes. Those beauties negated the bogeys on the seventh, eighth and 10th in a bid for a third crown in the 96th edition of Asia’s oldest national championship which stakes a total prize money of $300,000.   Mars Pucay, a veteran Asian Tour campaigner, matched Miñoza’s score after he shot three birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 13, the hard par-five hole, as against a lone bogey on the par-three 16th. Still, he had a decent round especially with greens being in tip-top shape to make birdies.   “I am looking to fare better than last year,” said Pucay, the former tee boy from Benguet, who finished at 10th in the 95th PHL Open. “That 70 was much like what happened previously where I had a 69 in the opener.”   But what the 41-year-old Pucay, the runner up in the 1997 edition at Camp John Hay won by American Kevin Wentworth, liked most was the condition of the greens of the East course. “The greens are holding up. A nice approach shot will be rewarded with at least a birdie chance.”   Charles Hong, the 23-year-old sophomore pro out of The Country Club, turned in a surprising 70 as well. He birdied five times and had three bogeys mishaps, most coming off from three-putts. He also made two par saves on Nos. 14 and 15.   Miguel Tabuena, the youngest Asian Tour player at 17, and Antonio Lascuna, were a stroke back with 71s.   Former Open champ Elmer Salvador and Ferdie Aunzo have identical 72s followed by the 73s of 2008 titlist Angelo Que, Michael Bibat and defending champion American Berry Henson.   Jay Bayron, last year’s runner-up, tumbled with a three-over-par 75 for a share of 69th spot. — JVP, GMA News