Lightning-fast surge propels Munson

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines – American Brett Munson nearly blew a solid start at the back with two late bogeys but snatched a one-shot lead from Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa just the same with a six-under 66 halfway through the rich Aboitiz Invitational at Riviera’s Couples course here yesterday.

Lightning was detected just before the scheduled tee-off at 6:40 a.m., forcing the Asian Development Tour tournament committee to set back the start by one hour and 10 minutes.

But Munson, who stalked the local aces with a 68 in the first round, shrugged off the delay and quickly birdied the first four holes at the back then nailed an eagle from 15 feet on the par-5 16th off a solid Hybrid second shot from 236 yards for a fiery 30 coming in.

He rammed in three more birdies against a bogey on No. 3 but missed signing in an eight-under card with bogeys in the last two holes. This included a muffed downhiller from six feet for par on No. 8 and on the ninth which he described as an impossible hole to make two putts with the pin strategically placed on a big sloping area.

“The pin placement on the ninth was ridiculous. There’s really no chance to two-putt there for par. Those bogeys annoyed me but I cannot be upset from here,” said Munson. “Just happy to be in the lead.”

With a 10-under 134 and a one-stroke lead over Lascuña and Ababa, Munson should really be pleased from where he is – 36 holes away from annexing a second ADT leg win after ruling the second stage in Malaysia last March.

But a slew of aces stood just a stroke or two behind, guaranteeing a down-to-the-wire duel for the top $17,500 purse in this 14th leg of the ADT and 11th of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Lascuña remained bogey-free after 36 holes although he slowed down a bit with a 69 in intermittent rains after a 66 and Ababa birdied two of the last nine holes at the front for a 70 and 135s while Que scrambled for a 71 for a 136 after a sizzling lead-sharing 65 in the opener of the 72-hole championship sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.

“My timing off the tee was off but it was a good thing that the ball fell in the middle of the fairway most of the time,” said Lascuña, seeking his first ADT win and fourth on the local circuit sponsored by ICTSI this year. “It’s difficult to play under the rain but I hope the weather improves tomorrow (today).”

Que, who sparked hopes of ending a long victory drought with an eagle-aided, flawless 65 behind solid putting Wednesday, said he was satisfied with his driving and iron play but rued his game-long struggle on the unpredictable putting surface of Riviera.

“Putting didn’t click,” said Que, who dropped into a tie with Thais Poosit Supupramai and Pijit Petchkase,, who shot a pair of 69s, while another Thai bet Rattanon Wannasrichan fired a 64 in winter rules after a 74 and jumped from joint 66th to a share of sixth at 138 with veteran Asian Tour campaigner Mars Pucay, who turned in a second 69.

Scot James Byrne rebounded from a 75 with a bogey-free 64, lifting last week’s ADT winner in Jakarta from joint 80th to a share of eighth at 139 with Miguel Tabuena, who carded a 71, pro-am tournament winner Casey O’Toole of the US, who matched par 72, and Myanmar’s Zaw Moe, who made a 69.

Elmer Salvador virtually kissed his bid for a record three-peat goodbye at 145 after a 77 for joint 37th but Frankie Miñoza hardly recovered from a disastrous start of 77 with a 71 for a 148 for joint 69th and missed the 50-plus ties cut by two.

Meanwhile, Aboitiz Equity Ventures CEO Erramon Aboitiz has cited the Aboitiz Invitational emergence as one of the premier tournaments on the Asian Development Tour with this year’s prize money nearly doubled to $100,000, making it one of the major events on the ADT calendar.

“We are proud of how the Aboitiz Invitational continues to gain stature as a significant leg on the ADT,” said Aboitiz, adding that the AEV is backing other sporting events such as the Aboitiz Football Cup in Cebu, the Aboitiz Triathlon in Pico de Oro, the AboitizPower Tour of Subic and the Cleanergy Travellers Series for the Philippine Sailing Foundation.

“While we are very serious about running our various businesses, we are just as serious about a balanced lifestyle, intertwined with fun and enjoyment. We believe this enhances the overall long-term effectiveness of the organization in line with our vision to make Aboitiz a truly sustainable enterprise that we can entrust to future generations,” said Aboitiz.