MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que birdied two of the last three holes at the frontside and fired a one-under par 70 to trail clubhouse leader Matteo Manassero of Italy by six strokes at the start of the Omega European Masters at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana, Switzerland yesterday.
Que, out to improve on his impressive seventh place finish here last year, had a roller-coaster round at the back of the 36-35 layout but rallied in the last nine holes with a 34, including a birdie on the long 629-yard par-5 ninth.
He stood in joint 28th place with half of the starting 156-player field, including reigning British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, still to complete their round.
Manassero also started at the back and rammed in two birdies before adding five more to complete a brilliant, bogey-free 64 to seize the provisional lead in the $2.8 million event.
Juvic Pagunsan, Mars Pucay and Tony Lascuña actually earned slots in the top-level event but opted to withdraw and play in the local tournament instead.
But Que, No. 9 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking, went on and took another crack against some of the world’s leading players, his confidence boosted by his recent victory in the Selangor Masters on the Asian Tour.