Miñoza fires 67, trails leader by 3

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza put on a solid iron game to fire a five-under 67 and trail Swede Johan Edfors by three shots at the start of the inaugural Black Mountain Masters at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand yesterday.

Flashing vintage form, the 49-year-old Miñoza came through with seven birdies from superb approach shots to negate a two-bogey mishap for his most impressive start in a tournament in a long while.

“I am quite happy with the round. My irons worked really well. I have been hitting the ball quite good at the start of the year but my putting wasn’t so good but I’m quite happy with my overall game,” said Miñoza, a multiple winner on the Asian and Japan PGA Tours.

Starting at the backside, Miñoza, still the country’s most revered golfer, birdied the first two holes, dropped a stroke on the next but picked three more birdies in the next five holes before fumbling with another bogey on the 18th for a 33.

He settled down at the front but needed to birdie two of the last three holes for that 67 and a share of second with George Coetzee of South Africa and Aussies Peter Cooke and Kevin Basic.

“It’s so difficult to keep up with the young boys as they are hitting it so long. The game has changed. When you are turning 50, your dream is to play on the Champions Tour, and not this Tour any more as it’s harder to compete,” said Miñoza.

Artemio Murakami, Miñoza’s protégé, also carded an impressive four-under par 68 from five birdies against a bogey for joint sixth while reigning Philippine Open champion Angelo Que stood a shot behind with a 69.

Juvic Pagunsan, the best Filipino campaigner on the Asian Tour this year, and Tony Lascuña both shot 71s.