Meeks humbles field in Masters

Nine years after his twin brother lost the Masters crown to Robert Pactolerin in a playoff, Aaron Meeks came over and threatened to even things up with the three-time champion.

Using solid ballstriking and precision to tame Villamor's slow, daunting putting surface and neutralize Pactolerin's power, Meeks shot a four-under-par 68 yesterday to show up a stellar field at the start of the 14th Philippine Masters.

Superb approach shots set up six birdies for Meeks, who rode on a fiery stint at the backside, the frontside of his game yesterday, for a 35-33 card he fashioned out in the privacy of a windless morning flight as he found himself the bewildered leader in this P3 million championship that started in sunshine and ended in torrential rains.

"The course is in good shape although I had a tough time on the greens. They're too slow," said Meeks, who nevertheless flashed a near-flawless touch on the putting surface where he sank birdies from as far as 15 feet.

A regular in the Asian PGA Tour but a first timer in the Masters, the 35-year-old Las Vegas native hit all but two greens in regulation then vowed later to sustain the momentum in a bid to contend for the top P500,000 purse and the crown his twin brother Eric lost to Pactolerin in 1991 in a thrilling sudden death.

Pactolerin, re-acquainting himself with the course he used to call home, gunned down two eagles for a 69 in an awesome display of hitting power although he said he could've scored better had he remained one of the club's resident pros.

"Masama pa rin ang palo dahil wala talaga akong praktis dito di tulad noong araw," said Pactolerin, who now had to pay in order to play on the course he had given so much honor in the past, which included three Masters victories.

Cassius Casas, the best bet here owing to his continued stints abroad, got slowed down by a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 No. 2, formerly No. 11, and had to sink a 12-foot birdie on the 18th to salvage a round of 73, five shots off the pace.

Australian Unho Park shot a two-under-par 70 for third while Antolin Fernando, the former Singapore Open champion, flashed vintage form and fired a 71, the same output put in by amateur Juvic Pagunsan, while another amateur, Jerome Delariarte, matched par 72 to lead the even par scorers who included Malaysian V. Arumugan, American Andrew Pitts and Japanese Yasuro Takashima.

Rodrigo Cuello, who nipped absentee Frankie Miñoza, the 1993-98 champion, and Pactolerin in a cliffhanger of a playoff in 1997, blew a one-under-par card at the turn and settled for a 72 in one of the late flights caught by drizzle that eventually turned to downpour. -