Arevalo rallies; Saso 6 off pace

MANILA, Philippines — San Jose State’s Abby Arevalo bucked an opening hole bogey at the back with six birdies, including four at her closing frontside stint, as she fired a five-under 67 to trail a hot-starting Becky Kay by three at the start of the second Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Hokota, Japan yesterday.

Kay scorched the backside with a stirring six-birdie binge then added two at the front to turn in a solid 64 and lead the assault of the elite field at the par-72 Royal Golf Club, which yielded 32 under par cards with 12 others matching par.

Defending champion Atthaya Thitikul lived up to the hype and shot a bogey-free 65 to stay just a shot off Kay but Asian Games gold medal winner Yuka Saso turned in a three birdie-one bogey game for a 70 that put her in joint 11th and six shots off the pace.

But aside from Arevalo, the other Pinay bets did well at the start of the 72-hole championship which gathers the region’s finest players with former Philippine Ladies Amateur Open winner and Asian Games bronze medalist Bianca Pagdanganan carding a 68 for joint eighth and Mikha Fortuna and Clare Legaspi shooting identical 71s.

Bernice Ilas, however, stumbled with a 76 despite near-ideal conditions.