Repato, Austria tame Forest Hills

MANILA, Philippines — Alfredo Repato Jr. and amateur partner Jonar Austria made the tough Palmer course look easy as they put on a fantastic round of 12-under 60 in Scramble format to grab a three-shot lead over three fancied pairs at the start of the Forest Hills-PGA of the Philippines Pro Am tournament.

Repato and the long-hitting Austria made a pair of eagles on Nos. 2 and 9, both par-5 holes, to go with nine birdies including a string from Nos. 12 to 14, to negate a bogey on the 11th and place themselves in a good position for victory in the two-day event, co-staged by Forest Hills and PGAP, which stakes a total prize fund of P500,000.

The tandems of James Ryan Lam-Jet Mathay, Gabriel Manotoc-Jed Dy and FH Classic ladies champ Daniella Uy-Rico See assembled nine-under 63s to be within striking distance. Another shot back were Angelo Anzuris-Jhoncent Ibañez, Ricar Candinato-Edison Tabalin, Antonio Lascuna-Martin Guiang and Benjie Magada-Dennis Nicomedes.

Sonny Almazan and Alex Ong combined for 65. At 66s were Leonardo Estrera-Ruy Nodalo, Melvin Ignacio-Lloyd Labrador, Jong Laput-Jondie Quibol and Mario Pagunsan-Rennie Floro followed by the 67s of Albin Engino-John Espero, Noli Kempis-BJ Cadayong, Erwin Madrileno-Jet Ang, Jomar Pepito-Don Breganza and Don Petil-Rajah Crisostomo.