Arboleda 7 shots adrift in Asian Amateur golf

MANILA, Philippines - Anton Arboleda birdied the 18th and salvaged a one-over 73 to trail Tianlang Guan of China by seven at the start of the Asian Amateur Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand yesterday.

Arboleda, a political science major at UCLA, headed for a woeful finish the way the other Filipino bets did but holed out with a birdie on the tough finishing par-4 hole to save a 37-36 card.

He stood too far behind Guan, who sizzled with a 32-34 round for a 66, but Arboleda hopes to sustain the momentum of his inspiring windup when he sets out in the second round of the 72-hole championship which gathers the best in the region.

The championship offers the winner an invitation to the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, while the champion and runner(s)-up earn spots in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship.

Fil-Am Rico Hoey looked headed for a impressive finish but dropped four strokes in the last three holes and hobbled with a three-over 75.

Hoey, who came from behind to beat fancied Beau Hossler Jr. in the closing holes to capture the 15-17 crown in the recent Junior World in San Diego, had a one-under card after 15 holes but bogeyed the 16th and dropped two strokes on the par-3 17th before holing out with another bogey for a 35-40 card.

He tumbled down to joint 36th, nine strokes off flightmate Guan, who flashed fine form to fire that 66 and post a two-stroke lead over Daniel Pearce of New Zealand.

Rupert Zaragosa, the former junior and national champion, also had a one-under card after 13 holes but also wavered at the finish, bogeying three of the last five holes for a 74.