Aussie takes charge; heavy rains halt play

Australian David Gleeson took the provisional lead with a second straight 70 in an eventful day yesterday that saw burly Gerard Cantada fire another under-par round of 71, amateur Angelo Que hang tough with a 73 and erstwhile co-leader Paolo del Olmo flounder under difficult playing condition at Wack Wack’s east course in the Philippine Open fast-shaping up to be a survival of the fittest.

Heavy afternoon rains rendered the par 72 layout unplayable, forcing the organizers to suspend play with 16 flights still to complete their round, including defending champion Gerald Rosales, whose bid to at least make it to the Open weekend following a disastrous 80 Thursday dimmed with a one-over par card with six holes to go. But top Filipino shotmaker Cassius Casas, who had a 70 in the first round, remained in the hunt for the lead with a three-birdie, three-bogey card after 13 holes.

The 23-year-old Gleeson, best remembered for helping the team win the World Amateur crown at Southwoods in 1996, made the most of his early morning tee-off although he admitted later he had to dish out a well-calculated game to survive the challenging course made more daunting with tight fairways, testy pin placements and unpredictable putting surface.

"I had the opportunity to shoot a very good score but the greens were tough. The speed of the greens put me on the defensive especially on putting," said Gleeson, who used his driver in just seven holes while opting for his trusted 3-wood and 2-iron in hitting the fairways and stringing two rounds of 70 for a one-shot lead over Cantada.

Del Olmo’s misfortune on the par 5 No. 4 best typified Wack Wack’s tricky greens as the Mexican pro reached it in two, tapped in a 25-foot eagle putt that rolled past the cup, over the fringe before dropping into the water. He had to go back in front of the pond some 100 yards to the pin before turning a potential eagle to a bogey.

"This is the first time in my life that I putted into the water," said Del Olmo, whose run of mishaps a day after celebrating his 31st birthday continued unabated as he fumbled with a 7 on the par 4 No. 10 after hooking his drive and finding the hazard after a punch-shot hit the root of a tree.

Del Olmo staggered to a 78 and slid to eighth place, seven strokes off the pace.

But while Del Olmo floundered, Cantada continued to dish out big games as the club bet banged in a 2 1/2 birdie putt on his final hole on No. 9 just when heavy rains forced the suspension of play, saving a round of 71.

"Yun siguro ang familiarity na sinasabi niya," said Cantada, a teaching pro by profession but had to give in to the popular demand to compete here in this P9.5 million championship co-presented by Casino Filipino and San Miguel Corp.

Que, trying to become only the third amateur to win this event, slowed down a bit with a 73 after a 69 despite playing in the privacy of an early morning flight but remained in the hunt for the crown with a 142, just two shots off Gleeson.

"Okay pa rin naman ang pwesto ko, pero biglang sumama ang short game," said Que, who plans to join the pro ranks next year after completing his back-to-back romp in the national amateur in Alabang last month.

The Australians actually dominated the top 10 after 36 holes, save for the rest of the unfinished rounds, with David Bransdon firing a 70 to be at a 143, Jason Dawes matching par 72 for a 146 and Danny Willersdorf also carding a 72 for a 147.

But the locals also made their move after a so-so first round showing with Danny Zarate, winner of the last local pro event at Forest Hills, shooting a 70 for solo fifth at even 144. Rodrigo Cuello stood at 147 after a 71 while 1990 champion Robert Pactolerin carding another 74 for 148.