Ramos, four others spark Philippine challenge in ADT Open with 68s
MANILA, Philippines — Sean Ramos spearheaded a spirited Filipino challenge against a deep and accomplished international field, carding an eagle-aided 68 to emerge as the leading local contender as England’s Thomas Plumb seized the first-round lead in the Philippine ADT Open at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on Wednesday.
While Plumb showcased world-class form with a dazzling, solid eight-under 64, the Filipinos more than held their own on a layout that surprisingly yielded low scores despite its reputation as one of the country’s sternest championship tests.
Ramos and four other local bets matched four-under cards to position themselves firmly in contention, providing an early indication that the homegrown contingent is prepared to challenge the Asian Development Tour’s established campaigners throughout the week.
Junior standout Shinichi Suzuki joined Fidel Concepcion, Jeffren Lumbo and James Ryan Lam at four-under, underscoring the depth of the Philippine challenge in the inaugural $100,000 tournament — one of the flagship stops on the Asian Tour’s developmental circuit.
The strong local showing, however, came against an equally impressive display from the foreign contingent, led by Plumb, who tore apart the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout despite limited familiarity with the course. The Englishman birdied all four par-5s and added four more gains on the par-4s to fashion a flawless 64 and take a one-shot advantage over Taiwan’s Su Ching-Hung.
Su matched Plumb’s eight-birdie output but dropped a lone bogey en route to a 65, while Malaysia’s Marcus Lim assembled eight birdies against two bogeys to headline a group at 66 that also included Japan’s Naoki Sekito, Korea’s Jaeil Kim and Macau’s Kelvin Si.
Still, the opening round belonged as much to the Filipinos’ collective promise as it did to the foreign leaders’ fireworks.
Ramos, coming off a string of strong performances on the Philippine Golf Tour, Asian Tour and ADT, including a runner-up finish at last month’s ADT Players Championship in Malaysia, continued his impressive run of form with another composed and confident effort.
After negotiating his opening nine holes with a 36, Ramos ignited his round on the inward side. His defining moment came at the par-5 No. 12, where an aggressive attack on the green resulted in a spectacular eagle that instantly vaulted him into contention. Riding that momentum, he added three birdies coming home for a brilliant back-nine 32 and a share of ninth place.
Concepcion fashioned one of the steadiest rounds of the day, piecing together a bogey-free performance highlighted by a pair of 34s. Lumbo mixed five birdies with a lone bogey, while Lam recovered from an outward 37 by unleashing a five-birdie barrage over his final nine holes.
Suzuki, meanwhile, delivered perhaps the most eye-catching finish among the locals. Starting in the afternoon wave, the young talent stood at even par after mixing two birdies and two bogeys through his first nine holes. He then caught fire coming home, birdieing four holes in a blistering stretch that enabled him to outshine many of the seasoned veterans in the field and join Ramos and company inside the Top 10.
Three-time Asian Tour champion and reigning Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Angelo Que also threatened to climb higher up the leaderboard. After collecting three birdies on his opening nine holes, Que found conditions increasingly demanding on the inward side and settled for a 70 after mixing two bogeys with another birdie.
The round left him tied for 24th alongside fellow Filipinos Russel Bautista, Clyde Mondilla, Reymon Jaraula, Randy Garalde and Rupert Zaragosa.
Kristoffer Arevalo likewise remained within striking distance after a solid 69.
The scoring binge throughout much of the day came as a surprise on a course known for rewarding precision and patience. Luisita’s tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers and subtly contoured greens have historically tested every aspect of a player’s game, but favorable morning conditions and aggressive play allowed many competitors to post red numbers in bunches.
As the tournament heads into the second round, however, the challenge is expected to intensify. With a crowded leaderboard and a host of international contenders lurking, the Filipino contingent will need to sustain its momentum.
Yet with Ramos leading a balanced local charge and several compatriots already in position, the hosts have every reason to believe they can remain in the hunt for the title deep into the weekend.
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