It’s Singh in the wind, up by one

SILANG, Cavite – The best-credentialled player in the fold frolicked in the wind as former European Tour campaigner Jeev Milkha Singh salvaged an even-par 71 under brutal playing condition at Riviera’s Langer layout yesterday that knocked out some big names-- including the last winner here-- in the second round of the DHL-Philippine Open.

"I like playing in the wind, it makes interesting for golf," said Singh, who boasts of 13 victories throughout the world, including four in Asia throughout his 10-year pro career. Although he never made it big in the Euro Tour, the ace shotmaker from Chandigarh said his stint there made him a tough player where he was able to hone his skills, including hitting different kind of shots under such playing conditions.

Those, however, didn’t include a couple of three-putt bogeys that marred his 35-36 round in a punishing day although Singh said he was pretty much satisfied of his overall effort that included five up-and-down pars.

Counting his first round 68 he fashioned out on a relatively wind-less day, Singh, 33, pooled a three-under 139 and seized control with a one-stroke lead over opening day leader Adam Groom.

The 25-year-old Groom typified the pros’ day-long struggle on the hazard-laden layout made more daunting by the presence of the winds as the Aussie pro made a 10-stroke difference in his game in two days – limping with a 75 after showing up with a 65 Thursday for a 140.

But that four-over par (36-39) output failed to take the fight out of Groom, who said later he wasn’t a bit scared of the wind factor since he’s also used to playing in such condition back home in Sydney. What he rued, however, was the testy pin placements which he described as "silly."

"I played okay but had some poor shots at the wrong time," said Groom. "But there are some silly pin placements."

Worse was Jason Moon, who fired a 68 in the first round for joint third but got blown away with an 83, that 15-stroke disparity pulled him out of the survivors list with a 151. The cut-off score was pegged at 150.

Another Indian bet, Amandeep-Johl likewise tumbled with a 74 and dropped from second to third with a 141, in a tie with Jonathan Cheetham of England (71), while a host of others, including just a couple of local bets, stood just a stroke or two behind, ensuring a wild and wooly race heading into the Open weekend of this event presented by San Miguel Corp. and sponsored by DHL Express.

Angelo Que, who had two top 10 finishes in his two Open stints, emerged the steadiest local player to come out of the day-long ordeal as he salvaged par 71 and stood at sixth place with a 143 in the company of Tony Lascuna, carding a 74, and Aussie David Gleeson, who also had a 74.

Another Australian, Richard Moir, was at 142 after a 73.

Even club pro Danny Zarate succumbed to the pressure and came in ruffled by the wind with a 73-145, then warned of more of the same heading into the weekend play.

"Actually, normal lang ang hangin na ’yan dito. Baka mas grabe pa ’yan sa last two days," said Zarate.

Only two players broke par, one local amateur Juvic Pagunsan, who fired a 70 and joined the 145 group. The other was Japanese Yoshinobu Tsukada, who also shot a 70 but missed the cut with a 153.

When asked of his plans in the final two days, Singh, who like Johl hails from Chandigarh on the outskirts of New Delhi, said he hopes to hit it straight and "pray the wind will be like this."

That should not sit well with the rest, who simply cracked under the tough condition and barely survived the 36-hole cut at 150.

Gerald Rosales was the biggest casualty as the 27-year-old Asian Tour campaigner, who won the all-peso Open here in 2000, struggled with his driver and balky putter all day and wound up with a 76.

After opening with a four-over 75 Thursday, Rosales had looked forward to gaining some ground through an early morning flight but got sideswiped by the dreaded winds that surprisingly blew as early as 7 a.m. Worse, he found the putting surface not to his liking, or more appropriately, his stroke was off.

Bogeys on Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 dashed whatever hopes Rosales had for the Open weekend and he even closed his frontside stint with a double-bogey on the difficult par-3 8th. But it was his muffed putt from 3 feet on No. 15 which broke his bid as he wound up with a 76 and a 151 and missed the cut by one.

If there was one other player who emerged quite happy from the wind-blown day, it was Ria Quiazon, who closed out her historic Open stint with a birdie-spiked 86 that went with her opening 84.

"I’m just grateful for the opportunity. I just hope it’s just the beginning. Things, I hope, will be easier after this," said Quiazon, who later broke down in tears.

Defending champion Rick Gibson wasn’t spared of the nature’s wrath as he fumbled with a 75 and a 147.

Joining Rosales in the sidelines were Cassius Casas, who won in Wack Wack in 2001. He skied to a 77.