Aunzo 1 shot up in SLLPA

BINANGONAN, Rizal , Philippines  – Ferdie Aunzo bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 16 to fire a two-under 70 and seize the first round lead in the inaugural Saving Laguna Lake Pro-Am Invitational at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal Thursday.

Riding the momentum of his breakthrough victory as a pro at the ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Classic last week, Aunzo, the former national champion, rammed in two birdies on each nine for a 34-36 to post a one-stroke lead over Rey Pagunsan, whom he beat by one at Royal Northwoods.

Other 71 scorers were Cassius Casas and Danny Zarate.

Anthony Fernando and Elmer Salvador matched par 72s to stay in the hunt for the crown going into the final 18 holes.

Mike Bibat struggled with a 74 but his amateur partner Park Jung Soo carded a gross 69 and net 67 for a combined net 141 as they took the overall lead in the pro-am competition, a fund-raising project for the Laguna de Bay Conservation Society.

Casas and national player Antonio Asistio II were two behind at 143 while Aunzo and Erwin Temena and Rico Depilo-Rey Bolano were tied at 145.

National team mainstay Rufino Bayron of the ICTSI golf team torched the rolling layout with eight birdies for an awesome eight-under 64 but his partner Arnold Villacencio limped home with an 83, leaving them seven shots behind with a 148.

Playing under winter rules, Bayron birdied three of the first four holes and turned in a 31 coming home, including a birdie on the par-3 16th where Aunzo fell into the hazard and made a 5.

The winner in the 36-hole P575,000 event will receive P100,000 put together by Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Ed Manda. The winning pro in the pro-am gets P40,000 while his amateur partner gets the same amount in merchandise.