Great short game saves La’O’s day

Unruffled by his errant driving, Cookie La’O went to his short game to fire a three-under par 69 yesterday and pace a field teeming with talent at the start of the qualifying stage of the Philippine amateur golf championship at the Alabang Country Club course.

The 26-year-old La’O hit only eight greens but came up with superb iron shots that set up four birdies and saved him at least nine strokes for that 69 and another crack at the No. 1 spot of the 36-hole eliminations held under the stroke-play format.

La’O, an Asian Games veteran who emerged last year’s elims topnotcher, posted a two-stroke lead over veteran Iggy Clavecilla, whose 71 stood as the only other under-par round at the rain-softened layout inside the posh Alabang Village.

Canlubang’s Solomon Gines and Bacolod-based JR Tanpinco, scoring an eagle-3 on the 16th, both matched par 72s to join the hunt for the Top 16 places in this event staged by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Three club regulars and three provincial bets are within the qualifying mark, setting the stage for a crowded duel for more than half of the match play slots available in the week-long event.

National caddies champion Jay Bayron, the Davaoeno now playing for Luisita, and club standout Yayi Escuadro joined Abe Rosal at 73 while Del Monte bet Joel Opaco tied last year’s losing finalist Jerome Delariarte at 74.

Defending champion Angelo Que bogeyed the first two holes on the way to a 75. He was joined in that figure by two longshots, Stephen Lasam and Lito Abiera.

Three former champs, Artemio Murakami, Francis Gaston and Emilio Tuason were in a big group at 77 that also included DHL Open winner Juvie Pagunsan.