Zarate cards 71, trails Malaysian Open leader by four strokes

Danny Zarate bucked a bogey-bogey start by birdying the last three holes as he fired a one-under par 71 yesterday to trail surprise leader Maarten Lafeber of Holland by four strokes at the start of the $910,000 Carlsberg Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a big windup for the 36-year-old Zarate, the least fancied among the five Filipinos competing in this event serving as the third leg of the Asian PGA Tour, to be among the top 20 of this star-studded event which drew the likes of US Masters champion Vijay Singh, Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michael Campbell, John Daly and five-time Major winner Seve Ballesteros.

The unfancied Lafeber tamed the front nine of Saujana Golf and Country Club’s challenging Cobra course with six birdies, including four straight from No. 4, as he came up with a 30-37 card for that 67 to lead Singh by one shot.

Singh, whose victory in the Masters last year prevented a major sweep by Tiger Woods, put in motion his bid for the top $151,660 purse as he shot a four-under 68, which, for a while, stood as the day’s best until Lafeber came in with that sizzling five-under par card.

Cassius Casas, who with Frankie Miñoza head the Filipinos’ bid here, bogeyed the par 5 18th and settled for a 72.

Casas was among the late starters, who included Miñoza Rodrigo Cuello and Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales.

Miñoza, opting to launch his campaign this season in the APGA Tour than in the Japan PGA Tour, his base in the last 12 years, had a woeful start with two double-bogeys and four bogeys against three birdies as he found himself in danger of missing the cut with a five-over 77 start.

Cuello had a 74 while Rosales had an ever par card after 15 holes.