Malaysian paces PGT qualifying
Malaysian U-Minn Woon and journeyman Nilo Salahog posted the only sub-par rounds at the start of the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas Tuesday.
Moon, a product of Fairleigh Dickinson University, shot a three-under-par 69 while Salahog turned in a 71 to take the first two spots in the 72-hole event.
The Malaysian, one of several foreigners seeing action, had a great round going after collecting three birdies through 17 holes but closed with a bogey on the par-5, ninth.
Salahog, on the other hand, started with back-to-back birdies, added another to counter two bogeys, and reach the turn on 1-under.
He birdied 17 to offset a bogey on 16. Alone in third place on 72 was Carlos Packing.
Five players were tied on 73s, namely: amateur Russell Bautista, Korean Kim Seong Guk, Rene Menor and Toru Nakajima.
Amateur Gab Manotoc finished with two bogeys to lead the group on 74s. Joining him were Henry Bolano, Jelbert Gamolo, Jorge Josh, and Gen Nagai.
The top 50 and ties from the field of 87 will advance to the final two rounds where they will vie for the top 35 and berths in Category 6.
The first-round results:
69 — U-Minn Woon
71 — Nilo Salahog
72 — Carlos Packing
73 — Russell Bautista (am), Kim Seong Guk, Rene Menor, Toru Nakajima, Hyun Ho Rho
74 — Henry Bolano, Jelbert Gamolo, Josh Jorge, Gab Manotoc, Gen Nagai, Jonas Magcalayo
75 — Ferdie Aunzo, Rolando Marabe Jr., Robert Pactolerin, Peter Villaber, Michael Regan Wong
76 — GJ Katigbak, Lee Hwan, Elmer Saban, Kuresh Samanodi
77 — Sonny Almazan, Leandro Bagtas (am), Ramil Bisera, Omar Dungca, Kim Min Seong, Ian Matchado, Pepito Rico, Coby Rolida (am), Atsushi Ueda
78 — Kristoffer Arevalo, Jang Su Il, Ivan Monsalve, Francis Morilla, Don Petil, Jeffrey Pito-On, Allan Remata
79 — Belem Arancon, Jesus Casas, Mhark Fernando, Lee Song, Teodoro Lucio Osabel, Miko Pactolerin, Reynaldo Pagunsan, Bonifacio Salahog, Mark Jovan Alcazar
80 — Elee Bisera, Johnny Espares, Kovage Hong, Park Yu Hyun, Christopher Popp (am), Elmer Salvador, Gabo Santiago
81 — Johnel Bulawit, Kang Chon Koo, Tharmalingam Kiishaan
82 — Choi Dabin, Danilo delos Santos, Kim Tae Soo, Mharts Rivera
83 — Erwin Madrileno
84 — Johny Arancon, Rufino Bayron, Joel Casanova, Joshua Insao (am), Kojie Jenkins Santos (am)
85 — Riley Keagle, Lee Jun Sung
86 — Angelo Ballesteros (am), Nico Evangelista, Taiga Iwasa
87 — Arnie Fernando, Paul Minoza
88 — Benjamin Labanza (am), Wilfred Panganiban 89 — Ji Sung Cheon 89, Brent Sumampong 90 — Allan John Minoza
92 — Nefry Enemento, Jessie Sta Clara, Ronald Yebes, Raymund Nuvio
95 — Julian Celis (am)
96 — Eric Superal
99 — Hwang Dong Hyun.
Cignal sets its sight on a share of the lead when it crosses paths with Philippine Navy in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
The star-studded HD Spikers stake their unbeaten slate in the 5:30 p.m. battle to move up and join idle Iloilo on top of the standings.
Meanwhile, Air Force and VNS clash at 3 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.
Flaunting a seasoned crew, Cignal bullied its way to a 3-0 win-loss record tied with AMC-Cotabato in a two-way logjam at the second spot behind the D’Navigators (4-0).
Despite sitting out Marck Espejo, the HD Spikers easily dismantled Philippine Air Force, 25-22, 25-26, 27-25, last Friday with JP Bugaoan and Ysay Marasigan taking care of the scoring chores after dropping 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor clarifies that he meant no disrespect to other teams with his decision to limit the playing time of his main gunners.
“We are now in load management when it comes to our players, especially with a long conference and more games ahead. Right now, in our program, we’re just heading into the last stage of our strength (conditioning). That’s the reason why we’re using different rotations,” he explained.
On the other hand, the Sealions hope to get back on the winning track after suffering a sorry 20-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-21, 12-15, defeat at the hands of Imus-Ivy Tuason Photography last Friday.
Navy is at the seventh spot with a 1-2 slate.
Jude Garcia and Greg Dolor, who scored 21 and 20 markers, respectively, in a losing effort must get enough support from other Sealions to hurdle Cignal.
VNS holds a 2-2 card tied with Philippine Army while Air Force only has one win after four outings.
The Griffins are fresh from a 25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 20-25, 17-15, escape over winless defending champion National University last Sunday.