Que cards eagle-laced 66, storms to joint 4th in Macau

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que blitzed the frontside with an eagle and three closing birdies to fire a five-under 66 and surge from joint 15th to a share of fourth, three strokes behind two-day leader Gaganjeet Bhullar of India midway $750,000 Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club in Macau yesterday.

Que flashed his familiarity with the par-71 layout although he had to shake off a so-so stint at the back before he could get his game going at the front for that stirring 30 and a 66 and a 36-hole haul of 134.

“I’ve played this course since 2003 and it’s pretty much the same course every year. If you can’t hit the fairways and don’t know what you’re doing, it’s a tough course. If you’re confident with your game, you can manage your game around here,” said Que.

With his solid opening, the three-time Asian Tour champion now has made seven straight cuts since the resumption of the second half of the region’s premier circuit.

After a fiery 63 Thursday, Bhullar slowed down a bit with a 68 but remained on top of the heap at 131 with Thais Prom Meesawat and Thitiphun Chuayprakong moving to joint second at 133 after a 68 and 66, respectively.

Aussie Kieran Pratt tied Que at fourth with his own version of a 68 along with former Asian Tour No. 1 and Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee, who also made a 68, and Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva who had a 66, and Bangladeshi Siddikur, who made a 68.

Over in Japan, Juvic Pagunsan shot a one over par 72 and moved to joint eighth at 148, five shots adrift of Tetsuji Hiratsuka in the second round of the Japan Open at the Naha Golf Club in Okinawa yesterday.

Pagunsan birdied Nos. 10 and 11 to recover from a 38 start but bogeyed No. 15 and settled for that 72. Hiratsuka carded a 70 for a 143 and posted a three-shot lead over Koumei Oda, who had a 146 after a 73.

Elmer Salvador shot a bogey-free two-under 69 and safely made it to the weekend play with a 141 for a share of 37th after starting out at 62nd. Also advancing was Miguel Tabuena, who carded a 71 for 141

Michael Bibat matched par 72 while Jhonnel Ababa made a 72 as they duo finished with 143s to make the cut.