Pucay, De Tomas take lead

Mars Pucay three-putted No. 9 for a 71 then watched Willy de Tomas hole out with a two-stroke penalty that ruined an eagle-aided round to gain a share of the lead at the start of the rain-shortened Konica-UBix Manila Open golf championship at Wack Wack’s east course yesterday.

Pucay and De Tomas’ final hole mishaps typified the struggle of the men of the tour at the long par-72 layout made more difficult by its soggy fairways.

But De Tomas had only himself to blame for blowing a three-under card when he took a caddy’s advice that his errant drive on the par-4 18th, which crossed the adjacent fairway, had gone out of bounds.

De Tomas, who last played competitive golf a year-and-a-half ago, then hit a provisional drive and picked up his original ball. He was later penalized two strokes since there is no out-of-bounds marker on the 18th fairway.

"Sayang, pero wala na akong magagawa doon," said De Tomas, who was one of those who benefitted from the cancellation of the first round where he went five over through 12 holes.

Pucay, one of the very few players in the fold who had competed abroad but who had a 77 in the first round, settled for a one-under card when he three-putted from 40 feet, then said later: "Mahirap talaga yung course, basa at maputik."

Richard Sinfuego matched par 72 on a rollercoaster round as he tied Al Cruz and Elmer Salvador for third, one shot behind the joint leaders.

Robert Pactolerin, who could’ve emerged the leader with a 71 Wednesday, carded a 73 to join fellow World Cup qualifier teammate Antonio Lascuña and unheralded Anthony Balan.

Over in Hong Kong, Danny Zarate rallied with a 33 at the backside of the par-70 Clearwater Bay and Country Club course yesterday as he shot a one-under par 69 to trail Arjun Atwal by four strokes at the start of the rich Star Alliance of the Asian PGA Tour.

Zarate, who birdied two of the last nine holes, is in ninth place while Gerald Rosales and Rodrigo Cuello, who finished joint fourth in last week’s Hero Masters Open in India, stood at 28th and 34th after a 72 and 73, respectively.