Kiwi bet stuns open favorites

CARMONA, Philippines – Nick Voke stole the thunder from the fancied favorites, firing six birdies, none bigger than on the final two holes, to seize the first-round lead in the 108th Philippine Open presented by the Philippine Sports Commission at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Voke closed with birdies on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-5 18th – the longest hole on the 7,138-yard Masters Course at 572 yards – to card a five-under 65 and lead the 132-player field in the opener.

The 32-year-old from Auckland had four birdies on the front nine, highlighted by an escape at the par-5 8th, where his tee shot flirted with the hazard before staying just inside the fairway. He stumbled with a bogey on the 12th before heating up when it mattered most.

Thai Nopparat Panichphol sits alone in second after a four-under 66 built on five birdies, one shot behind Voke in the biggest Philippine Open in history with a $1-million purse.

Multi-titled veteran Kevin Na of the United States is tied with four others for third after a 67, while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand is tied for eighth at 68 with a double bogey on the par-5 15th, which is playing as a par-4 this week.

Tangkamolprasert’s closest rival for the Order of Merit crown, Australia’s Travis Smyth, struggled to a 69th-place tie after five bogeys against just one birdie, including four bogeys on the front nine.

“Things weren’t looking good, but then I made the turn at the 17th and 18th. I also got lucky, and you have to be lucky to complete a round like this. I’m very happy going into the second round,” said Voke, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia and China Tour who ranks 20th in the Order of Merit.

“I’ll have more of the same approach in Round 2. It’s really a hard course, so you have to be patient and disciplined. It’s all about trusting your swing. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t, so I’m very fortunate it went my way.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Golf Tour No. 1 and former Philippine Open champion Angelo Que struggled to a five-over 75 for a share of 98th, with a double bogey on the par-4 6th, four bogeys and just one birdie, in a flat start for the local hopes without top gun and Olympian Miguel Tabuena, who is out with a left thumb injury.

Justin Quiban, at one-under, led the 28-man local contingent in a tie for 12th to stay within striking distance heading into Friday’s second round, where the cut for the top 60 and ties takes effect.

Lloyd Jefferson Go and Carl Jano Corpus were next best among the Filipinos at even par, tied for 26th.

“It’s a tough course, so let’s see if I can figure it out. It’s also gusty, but everyone goes through that. Let’s see in Round 2,” said Que, downplaying any home-course edge on the transformed Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters Course, particularly holes No. 4 and 15, which are now both playing as par-4s.