Josh Jorge, Harmie Constantino show way in Match Play eliminations

MANILA, Philippines — Josh Jorge blew a fiery start with a faltering finish but seized the spotlight just the same with a one-over 73 while Harmie Constantino took her familiar role as leader at the start of the stroke play elims of the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Golf Championships at the Orchard’s Players course in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Jorge, 15, came through with superb iron shots to set up a number of birdie chances, including three to close out his frontside stint with a 33. But the Grade 11 student from Taguig backed by Team Luisita floundered coming home, hobbling with a 40 marred by a triple-bogey on the par-5 12th.

Still, he showed up the crack field in the first round of the 36-hole elims of the annual event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Carl Corpus, Don Padilla and defending champion Peter Tyler Po all carded 75s while Aniceto Mandanas shot a 76 and Luigi Guerrero and Aidric Chan came up with identical 77s as they gear up for low medal honors and try to built confidence heading to the match play phase tomorrow.

Constantino, runner-up here last year, birdied the last hole to save a 74 and post a four-stroke lead over Korean Kim Hui Won, who turned in a 78, as the other local bets struggled in hot condition and finished with soaring scores.