Murakami, Que four shots adrift

MANILA, Philippines - Artemio Murakami, making up for a mediocre start on the Asian Tour, fired a three-under 67 yesterday to trail joint leaders Digvijay Singh of India and Mitchell Brown of Australia by four at the start of the Thailand Open in Phuket, Thailand yesterday.

Murakami, who failed to see action in the Asian Tour International after topping The Country Club Invitational here, missed the cut in the Malaysian Open and withdrew from the Indonesian Open, used a strong start at the backside of the par-70 Laguna Phuket Club with four birdies en route to a 36-31 card.

Angelo Que bogeyed No. 7 on his homeward trip and settled for 67 to join Murakami and 11 others in 21st place.

Que eagled No. 1 to go four-under but stumbled with a bogey on the par-3 seventh for a 34-33 round.

Mars Pucay and Tony Lascuña both made 68s while Frankie Miñoza shot a 69.