Cold start by RP pros in Macau

The Filipino golfers struggled in the face of the torrid scoring by the international field with Cassius Casas and three other compatriots settling with even-par 71s at the start of the Macau Open yesterday paced by Scot Simon Dyson's stirring seven-under-par 64.

Casas, fresh from his victory in last week's Philippine Masters, couldn't get untracked and wound up with that 71 as he stood seven strokes off Dyson, whose 64 gave him a two-shot lead over Kenny Druce and Myanmar ace Kyi Hla Han, who both had 66s.

Six Americans, led by former Masters and British Open champion Mark O'Meara, occupied the fourth to ninth places with Chris Hunsucker firing a 67 to tie O'Meara. Mike Cunning shot a 69, the same output put in by Andrew Pitts, Scott Taylor and Gerry Norquist.

Ramon Brobio also fired a 71 as well as Mars Pucay and Carito Villaroman, while Rodrigo Cuello and Danny Zarate fumbled with a 73 and 79, respectively.