Hot-starting Taiwanese up by 1

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines  â€“ Taiwan’s Chiu Han-ting went on an early binge but slowed down in the end and settled for a two-under-par 70 to wrest a one-stroke lead even as Andres Saldana emerged as the top Filipino performer in the boys’ Class A division in the first round of the Philippine Junior Golf Championship (The Montecillo) at the Orchard Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Chiu opened with a birdie-eagle-birdie card in the first three holes to go five-under early at the Orchard’s Palmer course. But he made a 6 on the par-3 No. 7 then dropped another stroke on the next for a 35. He hit three more birdies on Nos. 11, 14, and 17 to negate his bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 for another 35 and a 70.

Saldana also eagled No. 2 then rammed in a birdie on the fifth to keep in step with Chiu. But a bogey on the sixth dropped the Filipino to 35 then the left-handed shotmaker dropped strokes on Nos. 11 and 12 for a 38 and 73, the same output of Boonma Danthai of Thailand.

The greens and pin placements were okay. It was not that really hard,” said Saldana.

China’s Hao Yang turned in a 71 to move in a tie for second place with Thailand’s Suvajanakorn Nattawat. Wang Wei-hsiang was alone at fourth after an even par 72.  

LJ Go, Raymart Tolentino, Sebastian Lorenzo and Singaporean Marc Ong were bunched at seventh with 73s.

Thai Supamas Sangchan had a solid two-under-par 70 to lead the way in the girls’ Class A category. The reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion was six ahead over compatriot Lueansri Kamolwan, who had a 76, while Bianca Pagdanganan carded a 77.

Fancied Princess Superal of the ICTSI team groped for form and skied to a 79.

“I’m going to bounce back in the second round,” said Superal, who captured the Flight A plum in the True Visions Junior Golf Championship last week.

The third edition of The Montecillo, organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines in honor of Amalia Montecillo, is backed by Pancake House, Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak, Teriyaki Boy, Inquirer Golf, Golf Depot, Golf Mix, Philippine Golf Foundation, and Fila as sponsors. The official hotel is Acacia, the newest destination in Alabang.

Abby Arevalo, also of the ICTSI-The Country Club squad, came through with a one-under-par 71 to post a one-shot lead over Miya Legaspi in the girls’ B division. Guam’s Nalathai Vongjalorn was a far third with an 80.

Chinese Wang Wei-hsuan churned out a 71, one up over teammate Chun An-yu and Kristoffer Arevalo in the boys’ B class. Three back on 75 was Guam’s Teddy Gogue and Lanz Uy.

In the team competition, the Philippines Girls 1, composed of Superal (79) and Legaspi (72) paced the field with 151. The pair of Pauline del Rosario (82) and Marvi Monsalve (79) had a 161.