Koreans buck strong winds, pace DHL Am

MANILA, Philippines - Sung Hwan Yoon came away with an eagle-spiked two-under 70 in howling wind to post a two-stroke lead over Mun Jae Hyeong as the Koreans dominated the Filipino bets at the start of the WWWExpress-DHL Amateur Golf Championships at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna yesterday.

Sung, playing out of Manila Southwoods, overcame a two-over card after three holes with two birdies and an eagle-2 on No. 8 for a 35, then sustained his form at the back with a two-birdie, one-bogey stint to turn in the lone under-par card in exacting condition in the event sponsored by WWWExpress and DHL and presented by Globe Teelcom.

Mun survived the windy day with a steady game with the Royal Northwoods’ mainstay finishing without a bogey for a 72 as the Koreans primed up to defend the crown won by their compatriot Wang Jeung Hun of Riviera in last year’s staging of the annual tournament serving as the second leg of the 11-stage NGAP-Globe Amateur Golf Circuit.

Forest Hill’s Inigo Raymundo recovered from a disastrous 40 start with a closing 35 as he tied John Kier Abdon at 75 while Jan Philippe De Claro of Ochard carded two 38s for a four-way tie at 76. The other four-over par scorers were Joey Huerva of Cangolf, Jonar Austria of Forest Hills and Del Monte’s Magno Arancon.

Five players stood seven strokes off Sung as Ariel Villasencio, Reymon Jaraula, Joseph Uy, Keanu Jahns and Shin Jin Woo came in ruffled by the wind with 77s while Andres Saldana, Angelo Jose Gandionco, Jordan Mamaril, Lawrence Celestino, Noel Langamin and Sebastian Lorenzo all carded 78s.

Meanwhile, action in the girls’ side of the event, organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils. with Pancake House and Golf Depot as other sponsors and AirPhil Express as official airline, begins today with Lovelynn Guioguio shooting for back-to-back wins against ICTSI teammates Dottie Ardina, Daniella Uy, Sarah Ababa, Jayvie Agojo, Princess Superal, Sunshine Baraquiel, last year’s runner-up Andie Unson.

While majority of the 62-player starting field failed to recover from shaky starts, Sung rebounded impressively, negating his bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3 with back-to-back birdies from No. 5. He holed out from the fairway at the par-4 No. 8 but dropped a stroke at the par-5 ninth.

He parred the first four holes at the back then birdied the last two par-5s on Nos. 14 and 17 against a bogey at the par-3 No 15 for a 35-35 and a two-shot lead over a steady Mun.

Raymundo also bounced back strong with that 35, spiked by two birdies in the last four holes but will have to double his effort to gain ground on the Koreans.