Fernando, Eustaquio 4 adrift in Asian Am

MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando and Judson Eustaquio turned in a pair of one-under par 70s to trail leader Yosuke Asahi of Japan by four strokes at the start of the Asian Amateur Champioinship at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan yesterday.

Fernando, the former national champion and winner of two tournaments abroad this year, birdied two of the first 10 holes and appeared headed for a solid start but missed a couple of birdie putts on his homeward trip before dropping a stroke on the par-4 17th for a 34-36 round at the tough par-71 layout.

While Fernando dished out a rather steady game, Eustaquio, out to improve on his 10th place finish in last year’s inaugural staging of the event among the region’s leading and upcoming players in the ranks, had a roller-coaster round of five birdies, six bogeys and an eagle in a 34-36 card.

The US-based Eustaquio actually went two over after No. 12 but strung up three straight birdies from No. 15 to wheel back into early contention.

The Filipino duo, whose campaign here along with four others is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and backed by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, stood four shots behind Asahi, who flashed his familiarity with the course by firing four birdies completing a bogey-free round of 33-34 for a one-stroke lead over Koreans Lee Jae-hyeok and Park Il-hwan, Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and Australian Jake Higginbottom, who all had 68s.

Four other Filipinos are also seeing action in the 72-hole championship with Marcel Puyat and Miguel Tabuena carding identical 72s for joint 24th, Jerson Balasabas turning in a 73 for a share of 32nd and Jhonnel Ababa limping home with a 78 for joint 84th and in danger of missing the cut.

Only the top 60 players plus ties will advance to the weekend play.

Puyat, playing out of the ICTSI golf team, birdied the opening hole but hobbled with two bogeys six holes, rebounded with a birdie on No. 10 before closing out with two bogeys against a birdie in the last six holes. He had a 36-36.

The 15-year-old Tabuena mixed two birdies against three bogeys, including back-to-back from No. 5, while Balasabas blew a one-under card with three straight bogeys from No. 6 on his way out.

Ababa, the reigning Canlubang Open champion back home, never recovered from a 40 at the back with a closing 38, marred by three bogeys in the last five holes.