Gibson grabs lead with 72

MANILA, Philippines - Canadian Rick Gibson survived a roller-coaster day at the wind-swept Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course and salvaged a second straight even par 72 to seize a two-stroke lead over Swede Malcolm Kokocinski midway through the 2014 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (foreign) in Gen. Trias, Cavite yesterday.

One down behind Kokocinski and Japan’s Ryoma Miki at the start of the round, the Manila-based Gibson reeled farther back with a bogey on No. 1. But the veteran campaigner birdied No. 4 and made three more birdies against the same number of bogeys to finish with a 37-35 card.

With a 144 total, Gibson, winner of a number of tournaments in the previous local circuit and now coach of top local pro Miguel Tabuena, stood two shots ahead of Kokocinski, who fumbled with four bogeys with a birdie to show for a 75 for a 146.

American Eric Mina, who also opened with a 72, also hobbled with a 75 in tough condition for a 147 while Miki sputtered early with a 39 and limped with a 77 to drop to fourth at 148.

No one broke par from among the aspirants chasing the 20 berths for this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour with CJ Stjarnfalt, also of Sweden, checking an impending with a closing 36 for a 76 and a 150.

Australian Mark Varela hit three birdies but made six bogeys for a 75 to lead the 151 scorers, who included Norman dela Peña of the US, who had a 79, and Kim Chang Hoi, the best-placed Korean, who turned in a 76.

Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa, inspired by compatriot’s Toru Nakajima’s breakthrough victory in the last leg of last year’s local circuit at Wack Wack, skied to a 40 at the back and finished with a 77 for a 152 for ninth.

Koreans Cho Byung Kyu and Cho Phil Kyu were in joint 10th at 154 after a pair of 77s as the rest floundered with over par scores, including Nam Ji Soo, also of Korea, who lay at No. 20 at 163.

But a slew of others stood two strokes behind at 165, ensuring a spirited charge in the last two rounds of the 72-hole eliminations conducted by the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

The top 20 players after four rounds will join the 40 other qualifiers in last month’s local Q-School and the 40 Tour regulars in this year’s ICTSI PGT set to fire off in March.