Fernando one stroke up in Malaysian Am

MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando played a near-flawless round of five-under par 67 to post a one-stroke lead over compatriot Paul Echavez as the Filipino bets dominated the start of the Malaysian Amateur Open at the Damai Laut Golf and Country Club course in Lumut, Perak, Malaysia late Thursday.

Fernando, the former national champion back home, sizzled after four straight pars at the back where he teed off, ramming in back-to-back birdies from No. 14 before adding two more on Nos. 18 and 2 to negate his missed green bogey on the par-3 17th.

The top ICTSI-Cangolf bet then knocked down another birdie on No. 5 before adding another on the eighth to complete a solid 34-33 card.

Echavez, also a member of the ICTSI-Cangolf squad, actually threatened to run away with the lead early with a brilliant 31 at the front but failed to sustain his charge at the back with a slew of pars marred by a bogey on the par-4 No. 16 for a 37 and a 68, one shot adrift.

Local bet Gavin Kyle Green, meanwhile, strung up nines of 35-34 from five birdies against two bogeys as he put himself in early contention in the 108th staging of the annual event.

Art Arbole also stayed in the hunt with a 70 as he joined another Malaysian, Mohd Iylia Mohd Jamil, in fourth place while ICTSI-The Country Club’s Peter Villaber rallied with a 34 at the back to card a 71 for solo sixth, four shots off the pace.

But while Fernando and company dished out solid opening round games, reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla groped for form and fell way behind in joint 57th with an eight-over par 80.

Mondilla, who humbled the country’s fancied players, including Fernando, to win this year’s RP Amateurs at Del Monte, turned in rounds of 41 and 39 and was in danger of missing the cut in the 72-hole championship.

Sonny Villaber, another ICTSI-TCC bet, blew an impressive 34 at the front with a closing 39 as he dropped to joint eighth at 73 with Jhonnel Ababa (36-37), Singapore’s Gregory Foo (39-34) and Kenji Cheung (35-38) and Thailand’s Supakorn Utaipat (35-38).

Zanie Boy Gialon and Jessie Balasabas carded identical 74s while Albin Engino had a 75. The other Filipino bets were Miguel Tabuena (76), Jobim Carlos (78) and Justin Limjap (81).

Meanwhile, reigning champion Irina Gabasa of Cebu and SEA Games individual gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda of the ICTSI team head the RP campaign in the 54-hole ladies championship set Friday.