Tolentino paces Phl Jr Am golf by one

MANILA, Philippines - Raymart Tolentino bucked a triple bogey mishap on No. 9 and salvaged a one-over 73 to wrest a one stroke lead over unheralded Joseph Orbito at the start of the Philippine Junior Amateur championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite yesterday.

Tolentino, 16, banged in two birdies at the backside of the wind-raked layout to cap his big recovery for the lead in the early going of the 72-hole tournament that saw fancied Rupert Zaragosa and Kristopher Arevalo fumble with 77 and 79, respectively.

Defending champion Park Min-ung of Korea carded a 76 to be within three shots of Tolentino, who placed inside the top 40 of the centerpiece 15-17 division of the Callaway Junior World Championships in San Diego last year.

“I had just one bad hole all day, the ninth,” Tolentino, a protégé of former two-time 15-17 world champion Carito Villaroman, said. “Overall, it was a good round, save for that hole.”

Working on a level card going into the ninth, Tolentino hooked his tee shot into the water hazard on the left side of the fairway. He then teed it up again, only to miss the green on his approach and missing a putt for double-bogey.

In girls’ play of the event forming part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports, Daniella Uy carded a 74 and took a one-shot lead over Samantha Bruce and Harmie Constantino.

Bianca Pagdanganan turned in a 76 and Sam Martinez made a 77 with Felicia Medalla and Abegail Arevalo shooting 78s to be just four strokes behind.

Diego San Pedro and Ramir Roque joined Park, with Gabriel Manotoc also shooting a 77 like Zaragosa, the champion here two years ago.

Gen Nagai, the Japanese who helped Cebu Country Club win the PAL Interclub two straight years from 2012, shot himself in the foot with an 80 like Indon Naraadjie Ramadanputra.