Korean shocks Apo field with 67, leads by 1

DAVAO, Philippines — Korean Park Jun Sung, who could not seem to get past the cutoff line in the combined tournaments of the Philippine Golf Tour and PGT Asia, took charge with a bogey-free five-under 67, leading the early surge of the lesser lights in the P3 million ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational here yesterday.

While the pre-tournament favorites, including the homegrown talents, fumbled and stumbled in early downpour at the tight Apo layout, Park was awesome from start to finish, birdying the first two then picking up three more strokes on Nos. 9, 14 and 18 on a tricky course he hardly had knowledge of.

He left as soon as he signed his scorecard but the 33-34 start should augur well for the player who missed the cut in the PGTA’s first three legs at Luisita, Riviera and Manila. Park also failed to advance in the PGT’s kickoff tournament at Eagle Ridge last March before finishing tied for 24th in the Philippine Masters at Villamor last May.

The unfancied bets actually took the spotlight in the first round of the P3 million tournament sponsored by ICTSI as Charles Hong and Nilo Salahog turned in identical 68s to trail Park by one while Ramil Bisera took the cudgels for the local aces by firing a 69 for joint fourth with Reymon Jaraula and the long-hitting Orlan Sumcad.

Another Korean, Lee Song, birdied two of the last four holes at the back to shoot a 70 and join Johvanie Abaño, PGTA Riviera leg winner Jobim Carlos, American Lexus Keoninh, Mars Pucay, Joenard Rates and Davaoeño Elmer Salvador at seventh.

Jay Bayron, winner of the recent PGTA Manila Southwoods, hit two birdies at the back to card a 71 to tie fellow Davaoeño Ferdie Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan, Anthony Fernando, Japanese Keisuke Takahashi, James Ryan Lam, Arnold Villacencio and amateur Kuresh Samanodi at 14th.