Japanese, Santos-Ocampo share lead

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines – Japanese Mitsuhiko Hazishume went on a torrid start in overcast skies but lost his rhythm coming out of a two hour-long rain delay for a four-under 68 and a share of the clubhouse lead with Carl Santos-Ocampo as play was suspended in the first round of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship at the Orchard’s Palmer Course here yesterday.

Hashizume, 28, took advantage of an early tee-off and fired three birdies at the back then gunned down an eagle on No. 2 before adding another birdie on the fifth to negate a missed-green bogey on No. 1.

But heavy mid-morning rains spawned by Typhoon Helen rendered the fairways soggy and submerged some of the greens, forcing tournament director Jittisak Tramprasert of the Asian Development Tour to suspend play in the $60,000 tournament serving as the eighth leg of the fledgling circuit.

At resumption, however, Hashizume bogeyed the par-3 No. 7 but closed out with back-to-back pars to find himself on top of the heap with most of the big guns, including Elmer Salvador and Tony Lascuña, failing to complete their respective rounds.

Scott Barr birdied Nos. 10 and 11 at dusk to join Hashizume and Santos-Ocampo in the provisional lead with the Aussie bet hoping to wrest the solo lead as he completes his round early today.

Salvador, who beat Lascuña by six in last week’s Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu – the first of two Phl ADT legs, mixed two birdies against two bogeys, for an even par card after nine holes before play was eventually suspended due to darkness.

Lascuña, the current Order of Merit leader on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, rebounded from a bogey opening with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6 as he made the turn at one-under.

Other notables who will complete their first round assignments early today are Scot George Thacker (2-under after 9 holes), Ausssie Ryan Bulloch (1-under after 9), Marvin Dumandan (even par, 9 holes).

Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena, two of the fancied bets for the crown, made even par 72s.

Santos-Ocampo, who blew his first crack at a pro crown in the ICTSI John Hay Championship last April, put himself in early contention with a 34-34 card spiked by six birdies, including three of the four par 5s, but marred by two bogeys, including one at the par-5 18th.

Still, the Fil-Am bet managed to hold on to a share of the lead in the 72-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., one stroke ahead of Singapore’s Quincy Quek, who like the rest of the field, sputtered at resumption of play at the front, settling for a 36 after an impressive 33 at the back for a 69.

Hazishume, a Tokyo Golf Club regular on his second year on the ADT, flashed superb putting skills early to humble the field, birdying Nos. 12, 13 and 15 from 21 feet.

“My putting is okay today (yesterday) and I hope to do good in this tournament,” said Hazishume, who whipped a 3-wood second shot from 245 yards to within seven feet for eagle on the par 5 No. 2.

Santos-Ocampo, meanwhile, came out of nowhere with his own version of a 34-34 card but opted to downplay his chances this early of the tournament also serving as the 11th leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“It’s too early to tell but we’re always going out there to win,” said the 24-year-old Santos-Ocampo.

Rufino Bayron, who went on a slump after humbling the pros as an amateur to win the Valley leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour in late 2008, proved flawless in another early morning start, making the turn at 32 on a four-birdie binge in a five-hole stretch from No. 3 only to fall back with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18.

He dropped to 70 in a tie with Rey Pagunsan, a former amateur hotshot also trying to snap out of a long victory drought, who bucked an opening hole bogey with six birdies against one more bogey in the next 15 holes.

But like Hashizume and Bayron, he came out cold at resumption, holing out with bogeys in the last two holes and slipping to joint fourth with Charles Davies of Wales, Korean Lee Hay-yeul and rookie pro Clyde Mondilla.

Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena, two of the fancied bets for the crown, made even par 72s

Other backers of the event, also serving as the 11th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, are Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf.