US bet fires 66, leads PGT Asia Qualifying School by 1

TARLAC, Philippines — American Sam Gillis put in a solid six-under 66 to seize a one-stroke lead over Finland’s Janne Kaske and Thai Nirun Sae Ueng at the start of the PGT Asia Qualifying School at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Gillis charged home at the front with three birdies in the last four holes in one of the late flights to get past Kaske and Sae Ueng and seize early control in the 72-hole elims which drew a full-packed field of 132 players vying for the top 40-plus slots.

Kaske also had a six-under card built around a three-birdie string from No. 4 but bogeyed the seventh and dropped to joint second with Sae Ueng, who anchored his impressive opening round bid with a backside 31, highlighted by a four-birdie binge from No. 15.

He birdied the second to likewise go six-under but dropped two strokes on the par-4 No. 3 before holing out with a birdie on the ninth.

“I played well today (yesterday),” said the 23-year-old Gillis, who despite his bogey-free round rued his poor putting.

“I missed a lot of short birdie putts. But overall my game was great,” added the Californian, who has been campaigning in Asia since January.