Swede, Japanese fire 71s, share Q-School lead

MANILA, Philippines - Swede Malcolm Kokocinski and Ryoma Miki of Japan turned in a pair of one-under 71s to share the lead at the start of the 2014 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (foreign) at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki Course in Gen. Trias, Cavite yesterday.

Kokocinski, an Asian Development Tour campaigner, put on an impressive start of 34 but bogeyed two of the last six against another birdie for a 34-37 card, enabling Miki to gain a piece of the lead with a 35-36 round.

Norman dela Peña, of the US and Manila-based Canadian Rick Gibson fought back with identical 35s to salvage a 72 as they tied a faltering American Eric Mina (35-37) at third in the opener of the 72-hole elims offering 20 slots to this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

CJ Stjarnfalt, also of Swede, overcame a faulty start with a fiery windup, closing out with a three-under 33 to salvage a 74 for solo sixth while Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan and Korean Kim Chang Hoi carded identical 75s for joint seventh.

Mark Varela of Australia and Korean Park JS shot identical 76s for joint ninth while Koreans Lim Joon Soon, Cho Phil Hyu and Park Kyoung Chun made similar 77s to stay in early contention for spots in this year’s bigger, richer circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has put up a separate qualifier for the foreign bets to accommodate the big number of players seeking berths in the pro tour following the breakthrough win by Japanese Toru Nakajima in the last leg at Wack Wack last year.

Nakajima placed joint second in last year’s combined Q-School for local and foreign aspirants topped by Dutch Guido Van der Valk

The top 20 players after the 72-hole tournament will gain cards for the upcoming 2014 season, which will feature a record 18 legs, including four P3.5 million events, firing off in March.

While Japan and Sweden took charge in the early going, the big Korean contingent is expected to make its move in the next three days with Kim Sun Woong, Park Gyuha, Lee Geun Woo and Cho Byung Kyu carding identical 78s and compatriots Mun Jae Hyung shooting a 79.

Bong Jin Ho and Seok Jin Ho, also of Korea, made a pair of 80s for joint 19th place.