Dutchman assembles 66, leads by one

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Dutch Guido Van der Valk flashed top form and shot a near-flawless five-under 66 as he upstaged the tour’s big guns to wrest a one-stroke lead over amateur LJ Go at the start of the ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes Classic at Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Recreational Estates here yesterday.

Van der Valk, who topped the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifier but who could only post a best joint eighth finish at ICTSI John Hay in three of the first four legs of this year’s circuit, missed making it a two-shot margin after holing out with a bogey on No. 9 from an errant drive for the lone black mark on an otherwise sterling round of 34-32.

“Despite that bogey, I had a solid day and didn’t really encounter trouble,” said the 33-year-old Van der Valk, a native of Lelystad, Netherlands who has been living and competing in the country since 2008.

Twenty-two players posted under-par rounds while 14 matched par at the par-71 layout which lay defenseless in the absence of the wind with Van der Valk fashioning out a low round despite drawing a late tee-off time in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I know there are a lot of good players behind me so I just have to play better each day,” said Van der Valk, whose best finish on the tour was second (to Artemio Murakami) at Manila Southwoods a few years back.

Equally surprising was Go, a rookie who showed up the pros with his own version of a four-under 67. The spearhead of back-to-back champion Cebu Country Club in the PAL Interclub actually went six-under in a solid stint after 13 holes but fell back with a double-bogey on No. 14.

What started out as a joke for Go could turn into reality in this fifth leg of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

“That’s actually what I’ve been joking about with my friends before the tournament – to win here,” said Go, who recently acquired a golf scholarship at Seton Hall in New Jersey where he would take up a business course.

“It’s just starting to come to me that I have a chance of winning here, I hope I can,” he added.

Local bets Jay Bayron, coming off a stirring playoff win over Miguel Tabuena at ICTSI John Hay last April, former Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Dante Becierra and Anthony Fernando and Michael Bibat all carded 68s for joint third while Mhark Fernando led an unheralded bunch of 69s scorers, who included Albin Engino, Rene Menor, Rolando Marabe, Joebard Rates, Elmer Saban and Chris Mamaril.

Bayron, who grew up at Apo Golf like majority of the country’s leading players, leaned on two long birdie putts on Nos. 12 and 14 to put himself in early contention for a second victory after nipping Miguel Tabuena in a playoff to capture the ICTSI John Hay Championship crown last April.

“It’s nice to start a tournament this way because in Baguio, I needed to play catch up to win,” said Bayron, 34. “Although it’s still too early to tell, at least I’m in the upper half.”

Fernando, the former amateur champion, also made a strong start of four birdies against one bogey while Bibat also missed joining Go at second with a final hole bogey on No. 9.

Other one-under par scorers were Rufino Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Jessie Balasabas, Reymon Jaraula, Agustin Mata, Mark Varela, Randy Garalde, James Ryan Lam, Korean Kim Chang Hoi and former Order of Merit winner Elmer Salvador, who closed out with back-to-back bogeys to drop to joint 14.

Frankie Miñoza bucked a double-bogey on No. 3 with three straight birdies from No. 7 but dropped another stroke on the 16th to settle with an even par 71 in a tie with fancied Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa, Cassius Casas, Jun Bernis, Benjie Magada, Micah Shin of Korea, Richard Sinfuego, Arnold Villacencio, Miguel Ochoa, Rey Pagunsan, Edward Reyes, amateur Francis Morilla and defending champion Carl Santos-Ocampo.

The event is backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp.