Koreans show way in Cangolf Am Open

MANILA, Philippines -Kim In Jae of Eagle Ridge rode on a solid backside charge to fire a three-under 69 in the rain and post a three-stroke lead over fellow Korean Park Gyu Ha of Riviera at the start of the Canlubang Amateur Open at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna yesterday.

Kim came out of a mediocre one-bogey, one-birdie stint at the frontside with a fiery birdie-birdie start at the back then knocked down another birdie on the par-5 14th to turn in the lone under-par card in a tough day at the par-72 layout.

He took a three-shot lead over Park, who birdied two of the last five holes to salvage a 72 while Jordan Mamaril blew an impressive 35 start with a shaky finish, bogeying the last two holes for a 73.

Rupert Zaragosa, one of the fancied bets in the 54-hole event serving as part of Globe Business Amateur Golf Circuit, had a par-game after 12 holes but sputtered with two bogeys in the last three holes on a course he calls home.

He wound up with a 74 for solo fourth, five shots behind Kim, while another Cangolf bet Joey Huerva carded a 75 for joint fifth with another Korean Yoon Sung Hwang of Southwoods.

Ayala Greenfield’s Norman dela Peña rallied with a 37 for a 77, the same output put in by Cangolf’s Nicholas Santiano and Gabriel Manotoc and Agustin Mata.

Micah Shin, the Korean find from Apo who teamed up with Ramil Bisera to win the Davao National Pro-Am recently, never recovered from a faulty 40 start, dropping three strokes in the last three holes for a 79 in a tie with Kim Sun Woong and Lawrence Celestino of Eagle Ridge, 10 shots off the pace with two rounds left in the annual event sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and backed by Pancake House and Cangolf.

Meanwhile, ICTSI-The Country Club teammates Jayvie Agojo and Cyna Rodriguez size each other up today as they begin their chase for the women’s crown in their side of the 36-hole championship.

Also on tap are competitions in Classes A, B and C.

Agojo, the reigning Santi Cup individual champion, and Rodriguez, who nipped Agojo in the playoff to capture the Hong Kong Amateur Open crown last month, will start on No. 10 at 7 a.m. at the North course with Ayala Greenfield mainstay Miya Legaspi, the 13-year-old former US Kids, Optimist and Junior World champion, completing the explosive threesome.

Princess Superal, coming off a victory in the Malaysia Juniors two weeks ago, drew ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio, Royal Northwoods’ Mo Kyung Won and Valley Golf’s Daniella Uy in the 7:08 a.m. group while top ICTSI bet Dottie Ardina, the reigning Taiwan Amateur titlist, will play alongside teammate Sarah Ababa, Koh Euna and Riviera’s Hwang Min Jeong in the 7:24 a.m. flight.

Anika Cedo, who helped power Southwoods to back-to-back championship in last month’s PAL Ladies Interclub, will start at 7:16 a.m. in the group that includes Yuka Saso of Cangolf, Jan Soleil Punzalan of Riviera and Bianca Pagdanganan.