Song charges back, forces 3-way tie at 68

MANOLO Fortich, Bukidnon, Philippines — Korean Lee Song checked a rollercoaster start with a five-under card in the last 11 holes, finishing with a eagle-spiked 68 and catching Ira Alido and American Lexus Keoninh at the helm in the first round of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship here yesterday.

Bracing for another so-so stint with a two-birdie, three-bogey effort in calm conditions after seven holes, Song found his rhythm and target, hitting back-to-back birdies from No. 8 then gunning down an eagle on the par-5 14th and closing out with a birdie to force a three-way tie for the lead in the P3 million tournament put up by ICTSI.

Keoninh and Alido bucked humid weather and also leaned on strong finishes in opposite nines to produce a pair of four-under efforts with the former birdying Nos. 16 and 18 to likewise string an eagle-aided round and the latter rattling off three birdies in the last six at the front for identical 33-35 cards.

“I stayed focused and played one hole at a time,” said Keoninh, who tied for 12th with Song in last week’s Apo Invitational won by Jobim Carlos. He eagled No. 9 for a 33 start but reeled back with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 15 against a birdie on the 13th.

“I’ll try to be patient tomorrow (today) and composed and wait for the opportunity to score,” added the American shotmaker, looking to end a string of heartbreaks for a crack at a first-ever championship in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Alido also hopes to sustain his good form, particularly off the tee where he missed just one fairway as he tries to step up his drive for a shot, also at a first title, after a couple of solid starts in recent tournaments.

“I played well today (yesterday). I hit most fairways and greens and my putting clicked,” said Alido, who tied for 10th at Apo. “As much as possible, you’ve got to avoid the roughs and the pine trees. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck and most probably you’ll be left with hard layups.”

Kim Sung Wook had that misfortune early when he dropped three strokes right on the opening par-4 hole. But the Korean settled down quickly, birdying the next and stringing four straight from No. 6 before hitting another birdie on the 15th to finish with a 69, tying four others at fourth, including Philippine Golf Tour Asia two-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, PGT Eagle Ridge titlist Guido Van Der Valk of The Netherlands, James Ryan Lam and compatriot Kim Joo Hyung.

Four others turned in two-under 70s, including Ferdie Aunzo, Joenard Rates, local bet Jelbert Gamolo and amateur Gab Manotoc, while Carlos put himself in early contention again at 71, also behind a strong finish that saw the hottest player on the tour turn a three-over card into a one-under round with four birdies in the last eight holes at the back.

Other one-under scorers were some of the feared players in the fold – Tony Lascuña, Elmer Salvador, former PGTA leg winner Justin Quiban, Michael Bibat, Orlan Sumcad, veteran Robert Pactolerin and American Nicolas Paez – along with Englishman Joshua Grenville-Wood and Francis Morilla.