Pucay sizzles with 65, leads by 1

TAGAYTAY – Mars Pucay bucked an early bogey at the back with a cluster of birdies  yesterday as he fired a seven-under par 65 yesterday to open a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat at the start of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines at the Tagaytay Midlands here.

Pucay, out to duplicate or surpass his two-leg victory in last year’s inaugurals of what used to be the Asean Tour and now the Mercedes-Benz Tour, proved flawless at the tough frontside of the par-72, up-and-down layout after a two-under card at the back, stringing up five birdies for a sizzling 31.

“Putts just kept falling in on some tough holes. With a hot game like this, I took advantage of every birdie chance on some easy ones,” said Pucay, who finished joint ninth in last week’s kickoff leg of this year’s circuit in Indonesia won by Lam Chih Bing of Singapore.

“It is very important to start this way, and hopefully, I could sustain it until Sunday,” said Pucay.

He certainly needs to maintain his form and keep his poise and luck going since a slew of others stood just a stroke, two or three behind, including the fancied players in the fold chasing the top honors in the $50,000 tournament, the second leg of a 10-stage circuit sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

However, his 65 failed to stand as the course record since preferred lies were played on the opening day.

Artjanawat missed gaining a share of the day’s honors with the Filipino pacesetter as he turned in a six-under 66 although the former Putra Cup individual titlist succeeded in finishing a bogey-free round on the fairly slow greens and under ideal playing condition in the morning group.

Like Pucay, Artjanawat teed off at the back, but unlike the Filipino shotmaker, he frolicked with a four-under 32, highlighted by three straight birdies from No. 16. He added two more birdies in the last nine holes.

Edwin Sanchez also rallied with a 32 at the back on his way home as he shot a 67 for joint third with Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand, while Anqelo Que, the reigning Philippine Open champion and runner-up in Indonesia last week, launched his bid with a 68, three strokes adrift.

Que, priming up for the British Open in July, also had a unblemished round of four birdies inside eight feet, flubbing an eagle try from 24 feet on No. 16.

“The greens were slow today and that got me off-tracked since I like the fast greens better,” said Que. “Still, I’m not complaining with my score.”