Hong shoots 66 in fiery start, trails Thai by 2

MANILA, Philippines - Charles Hong put on a fiery windup to fire a six-under 66 for a career-best start on the Asian Tour as he stood just two strokes off a flu-stricken Thai Jazz Janewattananond at the start of the $750,000 Resorts World Manila Masters at Manila Southwoods’ Masters Course in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

World Cup partners Angelo Que and Tony Lascuña turned in a pair of 67s to join the big group of five-under par scorers while Richard Sinfuego, Rufino Bayron and Mhark Fernando each had 69s and Miguel Tabuena and Marvin Dumandan shot a pair of 70s as the local bets made a strong start in the rich tournament offering a top purse of $135,000.

Hong flashed superb putting touch to close out with four straight birdies at the front, negating a double-bogey mishap on No. 5 and preserving a hot start sparked by a flawless 33 at the back of the hazard-laden layout that took severe beating from the men of the tour under winter rules.

Janewattananond led the attack with a bogey-free eight-under 64, seizing a one-stroke lead over Canadian Richard Lee, who also turned in a flawless 34-31 card, while Hong lay a shot farther back with another Thai Thitiphun Chuayprakong. Australian Matthew Stieger and American David Lipsky.

Twelve players matched Que and Lascuña’s 67s, 15 came through with 68s and a horde of others stayed in early contention with 69s, 70s and 71s, guaranteeing a shootout in the next three days of the championship also held to raise funds for super typhoon Yolanda victims.

“I putted well as the greens were fair today. What you see is what you get. No tricky aspect to it,” said Hong, who rolled in three birdies inside eight feet at the back. He knocked down two long ones on Nos. 1 and 6, made a tap-in on the seventh then holed out with two more birdies inside 13 feet.

“I’m happy to shoot this 66 as this is only my third tournament on the Asian Tour, making the cut in last year’s Philippine Open and failing to make it this year,” said Hong, who dumped his tee-shot on the par-3 No. 5 into the hazard.

Que birdied five of the last six holes to turn a mediocre 36 start into an impressive finish, so did Lascuña, who had a bogey-free 32-35 card although the reigning ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion settled for pars in the last seven holes at the easier backside.

Two of the fancied local bets, however, struggled as Elmer Salvador hobbled with a 74 and Frankie Miñoza limped with a 75 to fall below the projected cut-off line.

Despite feeling unwell, Jazz is delighted to start his campaign strongly as he takes aim at a maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

“I played well today even though I wasn’t feeling well this morning. I have been nursing a flu since returning from India last week. My iron play was really good today and I played pretty consistent too. I like this course. It suits my game a lot,” said Jazz.

Lee, who came through the qualifying school earlier in January, had also his maiden title hopes boost after returning with a flawless 65.

“It was a pretty good round. Jazz and I were hitting it really well and making lots of putts out there. We got the good draw in the morning with no wind and it seemed to be pretty easy out there. The golf course is pretty fair and easy. If you hit your ball straight and place it where you want it to, you can make easy putts out there,” said the 23-year-old, who marked his card with seven birdies.