Young guns seize lead in Country Club opener

CANLUBANG — The young guns bucked the tough pin placements and took charge in The Country Club Invitational with Jerome Delariarte and Cookie La’O barging into the clubhouse in the last two flights with identical two-under par 68s and catching Benjie Magada at the helm at the start of the P3.8-million event at the posh Country Club layout.

Just when veterans Cassius Casas and Gerald Rosales thought they had seized control of the field early with identical 69s fashioned out in the early morning flights, there came Delariarte, winner of the pro-am event Wednesday, in second-to-last group with a 34-34 card before La’O stormed in with his own version of a 35-33 round.

Earlier, Magada, who tied for second in the inaugural staging of this event in 2003 and finished in joint sixth last year, dislodged Casas and Rosales with a 36-32 card spiked by a stirring three-birdie string from No. 12, then relished the thought of starting the second round on top of the heap.

But Delariarte and La’O had other things in mind.

Delariarte sustained his superb form the day before where he teamed up with Jason Lim to rule the traditional pro-am tournament, negating a missed-green bogey on No. 12 with three birdies, including one on the tough finishing hole on No. 18.

"I think I played well. But it’s still too early to tell," said Delariarte.

La’O, still searching for a breakthrough win in three years on the local scene bereft of tournaments the last few years, birdied two of his last five holes, including a tap-in on the par-3 17th then said he liked where he stood at this stage.

"I like where I am but this is just the first round. Anything can still happen," said La’O.

Majority of the select field of 40, however, had some catching up to do, particularly those who fell prey to the testy pin placements, resulting in mediocre scores when the dreaded winds proved calmer on a surprisingly cloudy day at this stage of summer.

To underscore the par-70 layout’s toughness, compounded by the early afternoon rain spawned by storm Auring, Peter Miñoza, Frankie’s younger brother, and Rey Pagunsan were the only players to shoot even par 70s to share fourth place.

Roger Cabajar, Mars Pucay and Bibat shot 71s to take the next slot, followed by Rodrigo Cuello with 72.

Lascuna started the defense of the coveted crown on a rather sour note, limping with a 73, marred by a three-putt bogey on No. 16. Other three-over par scorers were 1990 Philippine Open champion Robert Pactolerin and Antolin Fernando.

"Masyadong mahirap ang pin placements. Halos lahat nakabitin," said Magada, who however bucked the challenge by coming up with solid approach shots that produced five birdies.

Rosales, the former Philippine Open champion, actually dished out the most stirring windup among the pacesetters, birdying the last three tough holes from an average of 18 feet as he salvaged a round of 35-34.

Relegated to the background by the young guns’ superb rounds was Casas, who won the inaugural staging of this event put up by Ricky Razon to honor the memory of his father Don Pocholo, who strung up nines of 34-35 to join Rosales.

Make it a three-way tie for fourth as teener Tonton Asistio also came up with a big round of 69 to find himself among the early leaders even as he led the charge of the amateurs in this four-day championship which offers P1.1 million to the winner.

Fancied amateur hotshot Juvic Pagunsan, winner of last week’s DHL Open and who is raring to join the pro ranks, fumbled with five bogeys and a double bogey with no birdie to show for a 77 as he found himself behind his five other peers, who included Michael Bibat (71), Artemio Murakami (74), Jay Bayron (74), and Jun Bernis (75).