Battle-tested Artemio Murakami, showing the kind of confidence he exuded in winning the 1999 national amateur crown, fired a one-over par 73 in an early morning flight to be five shots off the lead in the centerpiece 15-17 event at the Torrey Pines North.
Another RP hopeful, Jayvee Agojo, 14, a sophomore at the OB Montessori in Greenhills, fired an identical 73 in the girls’ 13-14 at Singing Hills Oak Glen barely eight hours after flying coast to coast on the eve of the tournament. She was only two shots off pacesetters Kayla Morinaga of Hawaii and Jennifer Osborne of Canada.
The petite Agojo completed play at Optimist International in West Palm Beach in Florida Monday and hastily left for San Diego after holing out, arriving here close to 11 p.m. With her victory at Temecula a week earlier plus her practice rounds, Agojo had played 13 straight days but she remained confident despite the inroads of fatigue.
The second Filipina in the division, the long-hitting Xandrea Dizon had a 78 and remained in strong contention at seven down, vowing to go all out in making the cut today.
Dottie Ardina, the pint-sized wonder from Laguna, recovered in time from opening day pressures in the girls 6-8 class, firing two-under par in the last five holes to salvage a 66 on the par 54 hole to be only six shots off the pace. Jobim Carlos shot a 60, seven shots behind the leading 53 of Thailand’s Pornphubeth Metaprasert.
And John Abdon came up with a 59 in the 9-10 boys at Singing Hills Pine Glen to be in good position of moving to the final round with Richard Lee of Canada leading the pack with a 53.
Another feel-good story was that of Lawrence Negrido who came in from Los Angeles barely on time for his tee-off, his trip delayed by visa problem back home. He shot a 77 as against the Mexican pacesetter’s 70.
"We’re very satisfied with our first day showing that put some kids in contention. It’s a big improvement from the last two years," said Merwin Mediana, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.
Murakami had four birdies against five birdies and rescued a number of pars with impeccable shortgame as he played with such exuberance rarely seen in the teener the last two years when he groped for form.
Agojo fired three birdies against four bogeys to be in a good position to challenge the leaders in the final reckoning although she had virtually pushed herself to the limit with her back-breaking schedule.
"Sa eraplano na lang nakakatulog (She catches sleep only on plane rides)," said her father Ireneo Agojo who accompanied her cross-country jaunt.