Eagle, birdie run lift Casas to early lead

Playing the Palmer course of the Orchard for the first time in nearly in five years, an in-form Cassius Casas mastered it just the same with an eagle-aided four-under-par 68 yesterday to open up a two-stroke lead in the 11th leg of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit.

Casas, who had won once and finished second thrice in his last four tournaments, exploded with three consecutive birdies and an eagle over a four-hole stretch from the second in another rip-roaring start for the player hot on the comeback trail after his career went on a tailspin last year.

Another player with a different comeback mission was close on the heels of Casas as rookie Cookie LaO, who was forced to miss seven consecutives events due to illness, threatened with a 70 under mild conditions all day. Only four other players — Richard Sinfuego, Danny Zarate, Orlan Sumcad and Rodrigo Cuello — managed to break par as the field appeared to have recovered from the shock of the turbulent conditions last week at Tagaytay Midlands with the average scoring pegged at a respectable 75.

Tomo Yoshinago, one of the nine foreigners in the roster of this event bankrolled by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s Foundation and San Miguel Beer, joined Eddie Bagtas, Rodolfo Cuello Jr. and Willy de Tomas at 72.

Order of Merit leader Mars Pucay and Angelo Que, the rookie who scored a breakthrough in Bacolod, led the group at 73 while Benjie Magada, a two-leg winner like Casas and Pucay, was far behind after 76s.

Starting from the back nine, Casas spent the first nine holes getting the feel of the course he last stepped on when he played the Johnnie Walker Super Tour.

But his front nine was a completely different story, with a gimme birdie on the par-5 second where he played his third shot from the fringe. Casas then made a couple of 10-footers to make it three in a row before he chipped in for an eagle from 10 yards on the sixth.

That rousing binge was followed by back-to-back bogeys from the seventh but a closing birdie put him back to four under.

"Malaki na pinagbago ng course lalo na yung bilis ng greens. Pero maganda pa ang palo kaya walang problema," said Casas.

Casas didn’t even give himself the benefit of a practice round in the weekend, opting to rest and hit balls in the range instead.

"Sa golf course naman, ganun pa rin ang requirement tama ang direksyon ng bola. Etong round na to na yung practice round ko."

Newly —crowned club champion Kevin Lee shot a 75 and the Korean amateur was bunched in 24th place with 10 others.