Yabut, Lee pace PGT qualifier

LAUREL, Batangas, Philippines — Ivan Yabut and Korean Lee Song delivered matching five-under 67s to seize early control of the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at Splendido Taal Golf Club yesterday.

Yabut leaned on power and local knowledge while Song produced a bogey-free round, as both players booked eagle-laden cards in the opening round of the four-day eliminations, which will award 30 spots for this year’s 10-leg PGT season.

Yabut, who recently turned professional after completing his Master’s degree at Texas A&M University, mixed six birdies with an eagle on No. 11 but had to recover from a double bogey and a bogey to match Song’s steady effort.

Song, a 27-year-old Korean based in Silang, Cavite, also gunned down an eagle on the second hole and added three birdies while preserving a flawless 33-34 card in favorable morning conditions.

The duo built a provisional four-stroke cushion over Japan’s Miki Ryoma, who carded a roller-coaster 71 highlighted by eight birdies but marred by two double bogeys and three bogeys, as half of the 121-player field was still out on the course.