Murakami two off pace in AT elims

MANILA, Philippines - Artemio Murakami shot a 67 for joint seventh, two strokes behind four players who turned in identical 65s at the start of the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in Hua Hin, Thailand yesterday.

Murakami, a former Asian Tour winner but lost his card following a dismal campaign last year, hopes to sustain his form in the next rounds in a bid to regain his spot in the region’s premier circuit.

The Final Stage is played over two courses at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Springfield Royal Country Club and Palm Hills Golf Club with the final 36 holes set at Springfield where the top-40 and ties will earn playing privileges on the Asian Tour.

Marvin Dumandan fired a 70 and stood in joint 30th but former national teammates Ferdie Aunzo and Jay Bayron will have a lot of catching up to do after opening with a pair of 72s that dropped them to joint 83rd.

Also carding a 72 was former British Open runner-up Jean Van De Velde of France.

Japanese Katsumune Imai and Masaki Sakata shared the first round limelight with Englishman Mark Foster and Han Seung-su of Korea with 65 at the Springfield Royal Country Club.

Sam Osborne of England shot a 66 at the par-71 Palm Hills Golf Club for joint fifth with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

Other 67 scorers were South African Peter Karmis and amateur Cho Hyun-woo of Korea.