Dungca shows up big guns, up by 1

SILANG, Cavite , Philippines  – Unheralded Omar Dungca brandished a new swing to fire a four-under par 68 and upstage the star-studded field for the scoring honors at the start of the ICTSI-Riviera Classic at the Couples course of the Riviera Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

The 31-year-old Dungca came charging home at the front with two birdies, including an eight-footer on No. 9 that gave him a 33-35 card and a one-stroke lead over former leg winner Danny Zarate and Richard Sinfuego.

Zarate, who snapped an 11-year title drought with a victory in the kickoff leg of the inaugural ICTSI-PGT circuit at Mt. Malarayat last year but has since went on a slump, bogeyed the opening hole but fought back with four birdies to assume the challenger’s role with a 69.

Sinfuego matched that output in one of the late afternoon flights, birdying No. 18 to cushion the impact of his double-bogey mishap on the 17th for a 35-34 card.

Juvic Pagunsan, one of the fancied bets in the P1-million tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., also put himself in contention with a two-under 70 spiked by two birdies in the last three holes at the front, the backside of his game yesterday.

“This is the first tournament I am using a new swing and so far, I’m doing great,” said Dungca, No. 17 in the Order of Merit ranking after two legs of the circuit organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I sort of pulling the ball too much before so I extended the club more this time and has been hitting it steady so far,” Dungca said.

But while Dungca, Zarate, Sinfuego and Pagunsan played sharp in a fairly good playing condition in the morning flight, the other top guns surprisingly turned in mediocre rounds in the third leg of the circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf and Golf Punk.

Veteran Asian Tour campaigners Angelo Que and Tony Lascuna settled for one-under 71s, leading the eight-man group three shots behind Dungca.

Worse was Jay Bayron, who came into the event with a string of runner-up finishes here and abroad but found himself in danger of missing the 36-hole cut with a six-over 78. He had seven bogeys, including three-straight from No. 12 with only a birdie to show in a 39-39 round.

Que fired six birdies but stumbled with three bogeys and made a double bogey 6 on No. 5 while flightmate Lascuna blew a solid 34 at the back with a 37 on his homeward trip.

Other one-under par scorers were Mars Pucay, Orlan Sumcad, Ferdie Aunzo, Rey Pagunsan, Gene Bondoc and Ramil Bisera while amateur Dante Becierra of the ICTSI-The Country Club team matched par 72 to tie veteran Cassius Casas, Ronaldo Cadayong, Joel Opaco, Rolando Marabe and unheralded Rico Depilo in 13th.