Rosales stuns vets, leads by 3

SILANG, Cavite – The brother also rises. On a slick, unpredictable surface where putting for pars seemed like an exception rather than the rule, Gerald Rosales put up a series of brilliant strokes that produced birdies and the first-ever under-par card of 70 in a rain-drenched Philippine Open fast turning out to be a putting contest.

Sinking improbable birdie putts from 30 and 25 feet in two of the last three holes, the 24-year-old Rosales finally tamed the dreaded but softened Langer’s greens that bedevilled the starting field of 113 as he seized a three-stroke lead over a couple of peers and players nearly twice his age.

He had a 142, even par on the par-71 layout but which felt like a five-under card if one were to consider the exacting conditions of Riviera’s gem of a championship course.

"The course is indeed difficult. Since there are many bogey holes, you have to have patience," said Rosales.

And a big fighting heart.

As first round leader and former national teammate Ruben Sasutil, who matched par 71 Thursday, fumbled with a four-over 75 marred by a three-putt bogey on No. 16 and the rest of the field still in the quandary in solving the puzzling greens, the reed-thin Rosales stayed focus even when his shotmaking continued to flounder as he took charge with that closing 33 in a big windup that may yet anchor a dream that remained unanswered up to this point.

"I hope I’ll make it this time," said Rosales, who rescued five pars in nine times that he went out of regulation and banged in an uphill 30-foot birdie putt on No. 16 then closed out with delicate 26-footer. He had a series of so-so finishes in the Asian PGA Tour where he opted to play after a flourishing amateur career.

Robert Pactolerin came in one of the last afternoon flights with a three-putt bogey-marred 71 to tie Eddie Bagtas, shooting a 73 at dusk, and Tony Lascuña, carding a 72, in second at 145 while a host of others, including the fancied Cassius Casas, stayed within striking distance heading into the final 36 holes of this championship.

Casas, still hobbled by a wrist injury, shot a 73 for a 148 as he stayed in the group of Canadian Rick Gibson (75) and American Andrew Pitts (74), six shots off Rosales.

"OK lang ako sa puwesto ko at siguradong sa putting na lang talaga magkakatalo ito dahil halos lahat pare-pareho ang palo," said Pactolerin, the Open champion in 1990 and who is coming off a big victory at Wack Wack in the Konica UBIX Open two weeks ago.

Mars Pucay shot a second straight 73 to lead the 146 scorers that included Sasutil and Japanese Yoshinaga Tomokazu who had a 72.

The cut was pegged at 160, easily the highest cut-off in Open history.

Although the rest of field grumbled over the tough conditions of the greens, Rosales defied the odds with a kind of stroke that drew raves from veteran Mario Siodina.

"Sobrang galing mag-putt. Yung save par niya sa No. 9 at yung bogey putt niya sa No. 11, sobrang lalayo naipasok pa rin," said Siodina, who himself bounced back with a 74 after an 80.

"The rains helped a bit since it somehow softened up the fast greens but when it poured I bogeyed Nos. 6 and 8. So I just really had a great short game," said Rosales, who, in a bid to further boost his confidence, will be tapping the services of his more illustrious sister Jennifer, the five-time RP Ladies Open champion and now an LPGA campaigner, to guide him for the last two days.

"Jenny might caddy for me tomorrow (today)," said Rosales.

That, indeed, would be a sight to watch.