Aunzo takes charge with 69

MANILA, Philippines - Ferdie Aunzo nearly put to waste a sterling round with a double bogey on No. 16, settling for a three-under 69 and a one-stroke lead over Elmer Salvador and Joenard Rates at the start of the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at WW’s East course yesterday.

Aunzo, seeking to a end a long title drought that started after he won the kickoff leg of the 2009 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, looked headed for a fiery round with six birdies in an eight-hole stretch linking both nines until he mishit a 4-iron on the windy 220-yard par-3 16th into a hazard. He took a drop and two-putted for 5.

Still, his 69 proved to be the best in the day as the big guns either groped for form or simply failed to measure up to the challenge of the tough layout, which yielded just five under-par cards and three even pars.

Salvador, who posted the tour’s biggest winning margin of 12 at ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic last Sept., made back-to-back birdies from No. 5 on his way home to shoot a 70 and tie Rates, who birdied the last two at the back, at second while Tony Lascuna, another talented pro on a long title drought, carded a 71 for joint fourth with Arnold Villacencio.

“I feel good with my swing but I still couldn’t say if I’m good enough to win here,” said Aunzo, whose best finish this season was third at ICTSI Eastridge last June.

He actually bucked a bogey mishap on No. 2 with three straight birdies from No. 6 inside 10 feet, rolled in a 12-footer for birdie on No. 10 then added another on Nos. 12 from almost about the same distance before barely sinking an eagle putt from 16 feet at the par-5 13.

Aunzo’s shaky finish enabled the rest to close in, including Frankie Miñoza, tipped to lead the chase for the top P450,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., who bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 2 with four birdies against two bogeys for a 72.

Miñoza, the 2007 Philippine Open champion at Wack Wack who is coming off a victory in Japan last September, said he was satisfied with his opening round performance although he hopes to improve more in the last 36 holes of the tournament serving as the closing leg of the 16-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

A campaigner on the US Seniors Tour, Miñoza was actually forced to take a two-month break last May when his knee snapped while working out on a threadmill in a hotel in New York.

But he hopes to snap a long slump on the local front this week as he joined Marlon Dizon and Rolando Marabe in sixth place, just three shots off Aunzo.

On the other hand, Angelo Que, the other Phl Open winner at WW in the 2008 Phl Open, failed to check a birdie-less 39 at the front, bogeying the first three holes at the back then dropped two more strokes in the last three holes against a lone birdie for a 79.

He lay way down in joint 58th and will need to shoot a low round to survive the 40-player cut in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Jhonnel Ababa, a three-leg winner this year, also put himself in contention despite a 73 in a tie with teener Miguel Tabuena, Richard Sinfuego, and the comebacking Ramon Brobio while 12 players submitted identical 74 cards, including Cassius Casas, winner of the 2001 Phl Open here.

Other two over par scorers were Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Delp Monte leg winner Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Solomon Gines, Ebarra Quiachon, Richard Abaring, Elmer Saban, Charles Hong, Rufino Bayron, Paul Echavez and Michael Bibat.

But while some of the big guns faltered, there were lesser-fancied bets who flourished, including Rates, Brobio, Ronald Pactolerin, and Mike Bibat.

Artemio Murakami, winner of Tuesday’s pro-am and champion of the last leg at BDO Canlubang, struggled with a 75 to fall in an 11-man group that includes Aboitiz Invitational winner Jay Bayron, Negros Occidental leg champion Robert Pactolerin and leading amateur Reymon Jaraula.