Angel rises in the East

It took an amateur hotshot to match a foreign bet’s hot start as Angelo Que fired a three-under par 69 yesterday to share the lead with Mexican Pablo del Olmo in the first round of the Philippine Open that likewise served as a coming-out party for the club bet but might become a farewell bash for the defending champion.

Slashing rains rendered Wack Wack’s East soggy, prompting organizers to declare winter rules and the 161-man field took advantage of it, including Que who pooled a four-birdie one-bogey effort for 35-34 round.

"The winter rules allowed us to have better control of our shots since it could have been so tough hitting balls with mud," said the 22-year-old Que, who plans to turn pro next year after retaining his national amateur crown at Alabang last month.

But after learning he had gained a share of the lead plus the thought of becoming only the third amateur to win this event after Luis Silverio (1966) and Taiwanese Hsu Sheng San (1967), Que hinted at dropping his amateur status altogether on Sunday, then asked in jest: "Will I get the P1.5 million if I decide to turn pro in case I win?"

For sure, Del Olmo would not allow it as the bespectacled Mexican pro had other plans on Sunday, including a victory bash to celebrate his 31st birthday yesterday.

"The round was a good birthday present. We’ll party on Sunday," said Del Olmo, a virtual journeyman in the Asian PGA Tour whose best finish was fifth in last year’s Thailand Open. He had four birdies in a 35-34 round marred by a missed green bogey on No. 3.

Gerard Cantada likewise had something to celebrate on his first stint as a pro over the fabled layout he literally grew up on, shooting a two-under par 70. He tied Cassius Casas (35-35) and Australian David Gleeson (34-36) for third in this event co-presented by Casino Filipino and San Miguel Corp.

"The game plan was just to enjoy the round and not to expect too much," said the portly 24-year-old Cantada, who scored a 78 in the pro-am Wednesday.

Much was expected from Gerard Rosales, whose victory last year at The Riviera sparked hopes of another successful stint here in the absence of top guns Frankle Minoza and other foreign aces. But the reed-thin Southwoods pro slumped with a fat 80, an unlikely score from a player of his caliber.

"Dalawang masamang palo lang, hindi na naka-recover," rued Rosales, referring to his lost ball on par 4 No. 9 after hitting over a coconut tree and a second drive that found the lateral hazard.

Now he had to dish out a Tiger Woods kind of a round to at least make it to the Open weekend.

"Pipilitin ko," said Rosales.

Obscure Ramil Bisera stood in sixth place with a gutsy 71 on a 34-37 card while Tony Lascuña and Ruben Sasutil had identical 73s and Robert Pactolerin, who won the last Open staging here in 1990, had a two-over 74, the same output put in by Danny Zarate and Canadian Rick Gibson.