TAGAYTAY, Philippines – Ferdie Aunzo used a three-birdie string from No. 12 to shoot a three-under 69 in windy day and grab a two-stroke lead over fellow title-hungry Davaoeños Tony Lascuna and Marvin Dumandan at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Splendido Classic at Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Aunzo, seeking an end to a two-year title drought, bucked the wind-whipped condition off a late start and fancied flightmate Juvic Pagunsan as he sustained a birdie-birdie opening with that backside birdie-binge to seize control of the stellar field in the kickoff leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
The former amateur standout, who last won in the inaugurals of the circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. in 2009 and had two runners-up finishes in 2010, kept his cool and stayed focused to inch ahead as the early starters wavered coming home either at the frontside or the backside of the tough Greg Norman-designed layout.
Lascuna, also out to snap a long winless spell, and Dumandan, who won three legs in 2010 but went without a victory last year, both had three-under cards on their homeward trip at the front but fumbled with bogeys and settled for a pair of 71s.
Teener Miguel Tabuena birdied the first three holes at the back in impressive fashion but limped home with a bogey-riddled 39 at the front for an even 72 in a tie with Elmer Saban, who had a 37 and 35.
Pagunsan, on the other hand, actually matched Aunzo’s two-birdie start to herald his comeback on the local tour after missing the last six stages of the circuit he dominated last year. But he made a triple-bogey 7 on No. 4 and dropped two strokes on the par-4 ninth for a 39.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, however, birdied Nos. 11 and 12 and parred the rest to save a round of 73, four shots off Aunzo in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Srixon, Callaway, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls and Dynamic Sports.
Other one-over par scorers were Anthony Fernando (38-35), Orlan Sumcad (37-36) and Benjie Magada, who blew a solid 34 with a closing 39.
While Tabuena sputtered in the end, flightmate Jay Bayron recovered with a 34 to lead the 75 scorers, who included Jhonnel Ababa, Charles Hong and Peter Villaber while Frankie Miñoza, winner of the circuit’s final leg at Wack Wack last year, failed to get going with a 76 in a tie with Cassius Casas, Art Arbole, Terence Macatangay, Demetrio Sanchez, Michael Bibat and Sonny Villaber.