Rosales sets pace; Miñoza 5 shots down

STA. ROSA, Laguna – Unable to putt on the unpredictable surface of The Country Club, Gerald Rosales did the next best thing – set up close birdie opportunities.

Thanks to superb iron play, Rosales knocked down four birdies inside three feet and came away with the only bogey-free round among 29 starters with a 66 to post a one-stroke lead over Elmer Salvador at the start of the rich Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup here yesterday.

Three birdies on the frontside turned what had appeared to be a mediocre round into an explosive windup for the 30-year-old Rosales, now enjoying top form after finishing runner-up to Frankie Miñoza in the recent Philippine Open. He had a 32-34 round at the par-70 layout.

"I hit it quite well today, especially with my irons. But it’s difficult to read the greens," said Rosales, who could’ve gotten a crack on the course record of 64 set by absentee Juvic Pagunsan during the 2005 Manila SEA Games if not for four flubbed birdie putts from seven feet.

With Miñoza could only show a one-over 71, five behind the leader, while Salvador also made a good start, birdying three holes at the front like Rosales.

He actually tied the former RP Open winner with a birdie on No. 10 but dropped a stroke on the long par-3 11th after missing the green. After muffing birdie putts inside six feet on the next two holes, Salvador drew level again with a birdie on No. 14, only to reel back with another missed green bogey on the 17th. He had 32-35.

With Pagunsan, who nipped Miñoza in a playoff to bag last year’s crown, failing to start due to a nagging shoulder injury, Jerome Delariarte tried to become the first player to win here twice as the 2004 champion opened with a two-under 68 for third, two strokes off the pace.

Robert Pactolerin blew a two-under card after nine holes at the back, three-putting No. 8 for a one-under 69 in a tie with Angelo Que, who came up with back-to-back birdies from No. 14 but fumbled with a bogey on the 17th for a 33-36 card.

Miñoza, riding the crest of his joint runner-up finish in last week’s Indonesia Open that gave him the No. 1 spot in the Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking, three-putted his opening hole on No. 10 and missed the green twice on No. 11 for another bogey.