MANILA, Philippines—Carito Villaroman, once the toast of local golf before he turned pro, fired a one-under-par 71 Tuesday to share a one-stroke lead with amateur Erwin Vinluan in the 36-hole qualifier for the 92nd Philippine Open slated next week at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong City.
The 35-year-old, who was seen as a global star after winning Junior World titles in the 1980s, assembled nines of 35-36 built around four birdies in stifling heat at the refurbished Villamor layout in Pasay City to put a foot into the tournament proper.
Only the top 10 scores will advance to the $300,000 RP Open that serves as a leg in the lucrative Asian Tour.
Frankie Miñoza is the Open’s defending champion.
“Anytime you get a chance to play in the Open, you just grab it,” said Villaroman, who needed a birdie on No. 17 to get back in red digits.
Vinluan, the long-hitting former member of the national team, bounced back from a horrendous 38 marred by a fat double bogey-7 on No. 2, gunning down birdies with reckless abandon coming home for a 33.
And unless something drastic happens in the final round for the leaders, it is safe to say that they would be making appearances in the Open that will again be played at Wack Wack’s fabled East course.
Jan Tambogon, another amateur, was the only player to match par for solo third, a stroke clear of pro John Pactolerin.
Reigning DHL Amateur champion Rufino Bayron, a product of the National Caddies’ Open, assembled a 74 and fellow amateurs Gene Bondoc and Ian Mathay churned out 75s like pro Hanson So Jr.
Former RP Amateur champion Jun Bernis, on the comeback trail after breaking his right arm in a motorcycle mishap, carded a 77 like three others to be in 17th spot.
Senior pro Eddie Bagtas struggled to post an 81 even as Michael Bibat, half of the Konica National Pro-Am champion team, skied to an 83 and virtually kissed his chances of making the main draw goodbye.
The first round scores:
71—C. Villaroman (35-36), E. Vinluan (Am) 38-33; 72— J. Tambogon (Am) 37-35); 73— J. Pactolerin 37-36; 74—R. Bayron (Am) 36-38; 75—G. Bondoc (Am) 38-37, I. Mathay (Am) 37-38, H. So 36-39; 76—J. Dolojan 40-36, E. Sanchez 40-36, J. Cedo 39-37, P. Echavez (Am) 39-37, R. Pactolerin 38-38, J. Balasabas (Am) 38-38, J. Pilac 37-39, R. Marabe 36-40; 77—R. Torrecampo 39-38, V. Santia 39-38, J. Bernis 39-38, M. Reanturco (Am) 40-37; 78—G. Sales (Am) 37-41, S. Gialon (Am) 43-35; 79—J. Reyes 36-43, A. Fernando 42-37, K. Tayao 38-41, F. Casiao 41-38, L. Dacudao 41-38; 80—M. Arevalo (Am) 39-41; 81—E. Bagtas 42-39; 82—C. Delos Santos 41-41; 83—M. Bibat 43-40, J. Reyes (Am) 39-44, E. Gozo 42-41, J. Opaco 39-44; 84—B. Sarmiento (Am) 39-45, R. Delos Santos 41-43, A. Bones 41-43, C. Palanca (Am) 40-44; 85—R. Depilo 42-43, B. Aw (Am) 46-39, B. Saragoza 38-47, M. Mendoza 39-46; 87—C. Calpotura 43-44.
