Seasoned Thai tames Malarayat

LIPA City — It took the experience of a veteran Thai campaigner to unlock the mystery of Mt. Malarayat Golf Club tricky greens as Boonchu Ruangkit took charge with a gutsy three-under par 68 for a one-stroke lead over Aussie Andrew Buckle halfway through the Philippine Open here yesterday.

Three birdies on the last 10 holes drove Ruangkit past a field that wrestled with their putters all day on the sleek greens of the Mt. Makulot and Lobo’s composite nines.

That birdie binge capped a round of 34-34 that took Ruangkit out of a seven-man logjam for 15th place and into the lead at 138, four-under par.

That was one stroke up on Buckle, who hobbled with a 73 for a 139, and two up on Filipinos Juvic Pagunsan, who carded a 72, and Cassius Casas, who shot a second straight 70 for 140s.

Koti Katoh of Japan, who shot a 69 in the first round, actually shot the day’s best score— a 67 and could’ve taken the halfway lead with a 136. But the rules committee, acting on the complaints of his flightmates, disqualified the Japanese bet whom they found to have violated certain rules, including improving the lie of his ball in several occasions.

Gerald Rosales shot a 73 after a 69 to lead the 142 scorers while Angelo Que struggled with a 75 and dropped to 143 although they are expected to make a charge in the final two rounds.

"The greens here are quite hard that’s why it’s very difficult to read them," said Asian Tour rulesman Wanchai Michai, who acted as interpreter for Ruangkit, one of the few veterans in the youth-dominated field with 13 years of experience that has brought him perhaps to the region’s toughest courses.

And this one should rank high in his list.

"He (Ruangkit) thought the Macau greens are the toughest," said Michai, referring to the Macau layout, site of last week’s 12th leg of the Asian Tour where Ruangkit finished in joint 42nd. "But actually, this one is."

Truly, what seemed to be a relatively easy par-71 layout has turned out to be one of the most difficult with its puzzling putting surface.

And with the winds coming into play, scores soared and the erstwhile frontrunners tumbled down the leaderboard, including Buckle, who gunned an eagle-2 on No. 10 but still limped home with a 73 after a 66 Thursday.

"I didn’t play bad but I hit a couple of tee shots that went above the hole. On this surface, it’s very difficult to putt on the downhill spot because it’s quick," said Buckle, who had a 39-34 for a 73 and a 139.

The two spearheads of the local contingent didn’t fare any better.

Pagunsan, eyeing to become the first amateur to win this fabled event since Taiwanese did the feat in 1967, carded a 72 although the one-over card proved to be solid enough considering that he dropped four strokes right in the first three holes.

"Ang hirap. Nawala agad ang focus ko sa umpisa pa lang," rued Pagunsan, referring to his bogey-bogey-double-bogey start which he overcame with three birdies in the next six holes at the back. He had a 35-37 card and a 140, two shots back of the leader. "Sana makabawi bukas (today)."

Worse was Angelo Que, who showed a lot of promise with a 68 Thursday but skied to a four-over 75 yesterday, falling apart on his homeward trip at the frontside with a 39. He reeled back at 143.

Errant driving and poor approach shots led to that terrible round from the country’s top Asian Tour campaigner outside of the eminent Frankie Miñoza with Que hitting just four fairways and reaching the greens in regulation just seven times.

Fifteen Filipinos made it to the Open weekend, including three other amateurs in Jay Bayron (68-144), Artemio Murakami (70-145) and Gene Bondoc (73-147).

The other pros include Rey Pagunsan (72-142), Tony Lascuna (71-143), Al Cruz (73-145), Mars Pucay (73-145), Cookie La'O (72-147), Elmer Salvador (72-147) and Orlan Sumcad (69-147).

Meanwhile, Mt. Malarayat’s chairman Antonio Turalba said the course will be open to the public starting today to give golf enthusiasts and fans the chance to watch top-notch action among the best players in the region in one of the finest golf courses in the country.