Angelo Que sizzles with 66, trails by 1

MANILA, Philippines — Angelo Que blew what could’ve been a record-breaking assault at the Saujana Golf and Country Club course with a pair of late double bogeys but holed out with a birdie to save a six-under 66 and trail Aussie Marcus Fraser and Nacho Elvira of Spain by one at the start of the Maybank Championship in Malaysia yesterday.

The power-hitting Filipino ace flashed solid driving, crisp iron play and superb putting to launch his drive for a fourth Asian Tour crown in scorching fashion. He birdied nine of the first 11 holes, including five straight from No. 7. But after three pars, he dropped two strokes each on the next two but recovered by birdying the par-5 18th to turn in a 29-37 card and stay in the early mix of the $3 million event.

“I thought I was dreaming when I got to nine-under after 11 holes,” said Que, a former three-time winner on the region’s premier circuit, including the Philippine Open at Wack Wack in 2008. “But these things happen especially when you play well. You try not to think too much and get ahead of yourself by ignoring it and keep playing.”