MANILA, Philippines – Aussie Fredrick Park capped an eagle-spike backside rally with a last hole birdie for a three-under 69 and a one-stroke lead over local aces Elmer Salvador and Frankie Miñoza at the start of the ICTSI Tournament Players Championship at Wack Wack East yesterday.
A rookie pro who has had a string of poor finishes in eight legs on the Asian Development Tour, Park overcame a rain-delayed first round and the slow greens with an eagle-2 on No. 12 off a 5-iron shot from 185 yards.
He gunned down two birdies against a bogey in the last three holes to find himself on top of the elite field.
“I gave it a little punch since it was uphill and the surface was pretty slow,” said Park of his last putt from 14 feet.
Park, whose best ADT finish was joint 39th at the PGM Bukit Jawi Championship in Indonesia last May, actually blew a two-under card after seven holes with back-to-back bogeys from No. 8 coming out of an hour-long rain stoppage but the southpaw fought back with gutsy pars and then came through with that eagle from 185 yards.
For a while, early starters Salvador and Miñoza stood atop the leaderboard with a pair of 70s but settled for joint second in the opener of the P3.5 million championship serving as the closing leg of this year’s 16-stage circuit sponsored by ICTSI.
Salvador, gunning for a second victory in the last three legs of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., stumbled with a closing bogey before the downpour while Miñoza flashed vintage form to put himself in early contention on a course where he nailed his second Philippine Open crown in 2007.
“I had a good start but struggled from Nos. 8 and 10. When I finally regained my rhythm, I came up short on No. 18 and made a bogey,” rued Salvador, who hit three birdies against a bogey in the first four holes, rammed in another birdie on No. 7 to go three-under but bogeyed the next three holes.
Miñoza upstaged fancied Tony Lascuña, who turned in a 71, in the featured flight that included Jay Bayron, who limped with 78, leaning on back-to-back birdies from No. 2 to match Salvador’s 35-35 card.
“We were on the tee mound of No. 9 when play was stopped so our flight was not much affected. Still we had to contend with the tough conditions all day. I am surprised to be on top,” said Miñoza.