INQUIRER Sports

MANILA -- Mars Pucay hit a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines Thursday.

Pucay, who last year won twice on what used to be called the ASEAN Tour, was delighted with his round at the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club, outside Manila.

"Everything was great. I hit all the fairways and hit 17 greens," said 38-year-old Pucay, who leads Thailand's Wisut Artjanawat by one stroke.

"My target is to finish the year as number one on the Mercedes-Benz Tour. I am practicing as hard as before and feel like I am getting better every year," added Pucay, who won in the Philippines and Vietnam last year during the circuit's inaugural season to finish on top of the order of merit.

Wisut fired a bogey-free round that included birdies on the last three holes.

Thai golfer Panuwat Muenlek hit a 67 along with Edwin Sanchez from the Philippines.

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, one of the pre-tournament favorites, carded a 70.

Leading first round scores:

65 - Mars Pucay (PHI)

66 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA)

67 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA), Edwin Sanchez (PHI)

68 - Angelo Que (PHI), Ray Pagunsan (PHI), Sukree Othman (MAS)

70 - Pol Kemarat (THA), Jerome Delariarte (PHI), Ronnachai Jamnong (THA), Pongthep Jaewchamnanchao (THA), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Shaaban Hussein (MAS), Somchai Pongpaew (THA)