Heavy six-man logjam at helm

Two very familiar family names – Miñoza and Cuello – were in the leaderboard of yesterday’s opening round of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit second leg at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club course in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

But other than returning Asian Tour campaigner Rodrigo Cuello, there were two other players carrying the famous names in pro golf who figured in a six-way logjam for the top spot.

Rodolfo Cuello Jr. and Peter Miñoza, journeymen who have long played behind the giant shadows of their big brothers, carded one-under-par 71s to match the frontrunning scores of Rodrigo, Danny Zarate, Juanito Pagunsan and Elmer Salvador.

It marked the first time in recent years that siblings set the pace in a pro event as wide-bodied Rodolfo Cuello sustained the big change in form he displayed last week with a round highlighted by four consecutive birdies from the second hole.

Rodrigo’s version of the day’s best round wasn’t as spectacular but the elder Cuello played steadier with three birdies against two bogeys.

Cassius Casas, seeking redemption after missing the cut at Sta. Elena, bucked two double-bogeys to be in another four-man group occupying second place at 72 that also included Ramon Brobio, Edgar Ababa and Dan Cruz.

Antonio Lascuna and rookie pro Marlon Dizon, who had figured in a sudden-death playoff for the first leg title, scored a 74 and a 75, respectively. Joining Lascuna at 74 were Robert Pactolerin and Japan-based Rey Pagunsan.

The 37-year-old Zarate, the most active and highest ranked RP player on the Asian Tour, was not surprised with the very tightly bunched scoring even if most of his fellow pros lack tournament play.

"Magagaling pa rin ang karamihan kasi hindi naman talaga sila tumitigil sa ensayo kahit na walang tournament dito," said Zarate who could have grabbed the solo lead if not for his 18th hole bogey. "Para manalo talagang kailangan pigain din ang laro.

Grabbing a piece of the limelight was Juanito Pagunsan, Rey’s brother and father of national team mainstay Juvic, who went five under in the first five holes including an eagle on No. 4. He had a 32 in the front nine that cushioned his back nine collapse of 39.

Miñoza, who also missed the cut in the first leg, was already two over after 16 holes until he went on a closing blitz of three straight birdies and still found himself among the leaders.