Fernando forces 3-way tie at ADT Southwoods

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Mhark Fernando came charging from an hour-long delay due to threat of lightning, birdying the par-3 16th to complete a bogey-free six-under 65 and force a three-way tie for the lead with Thai Natthapong Niyomchon and Taichi Nabetani of Japan at the start of the rich ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship ADT here yesterday.

Fernando took up the cudgels for the local bets as fancied Tony Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena turned in mediocre rounds on a day the foreign aces put on a strong start and took eight of the top 13 spots to lead the assault on the par-71 hazard-laden layout.

Niyomchon and Nabetani took advantage of calm conditions on early tee-times with the former highlighting his 31-34 card with four straight birdies from No. 3 before holing out with back-to-back birdie feats. He actually fumbled with two bogeys on Nos. 11 and 15 but tied with birdies on Nos. 9 and 13.

Nabetani also leaned on a fiery start of back-to-back birdies and closed out his frontside stint with two more birdies. He reeled back with an unlikely bogey on No. 10 but strung up three birdies on the next en route to a 32-35.

The troika stood a stroke up on another pair of Thais Pijit Petchkasem and Pannakorn Uthaipas and Malaysian Gavin Green, who finished with identical 66s fashioned out in varying fashions.

Organizers suspended play at 4 p.m., stranding a number of flights, including Tabuena, who blew a 34 start with a closing 38 marred by a double-bogey on No. 14. He wound up with a one-over 72 for joint 59th in his return from a pullout on a bad back at Luisita Championship two weeks ago.

Lascuña, on the other hand, struggled with his balky putter all day and settled for an even par 71. He hit three birdies but bogeyed the par-3 16th and dropped two shots on the par-4 No. 5 when he overshot the green, hit a fat third shot and made it in four and two-putted.

“I just couldn’t putt and missed at least four birdie chances,” rued Lascuña, who came into the $60,000 event, the first of two Asian Development Tour events, as one of the favorites following a runaway win at Luisita two weeks ago and playing on his home course.

Petchkasem blazed the frontside with an eagle-aided six-under 30 to offset his double-bogey on the par-3 16th, finishing with a 66 in a tie with Green, who rammed in six birdies against a bogey, and Uthaipas, who also sizzled with an opening 31 before slowing down at the back.

The Legends took a beating from the morning group with a slew of under-par cards before it held up a bit when the wind began to whip up towards mid-noon.

Former amateur star Jobim Carlos, out to atone for his missed cut pro debut at Luisita, looked headed for an explosive start but stumbled with a bogey on the par-5 17th and settled for a four-under 67.