Pactolerin up by 1 in Del Monte

Manolo Fortich Bukidnon—Robert Pactolerin showed flashes of his old brilliant form by shooting a 6-under-par 66 yesterday to take the lead at the start of the ICTSI Del Monte championship at the scenic, tree-lined Del Monte course here.

The 50-year-old former Philippine Open champion gunned down seven birdies against a solitary bogey to pull ahead by one stroke over darkhorse Ebarra Quiachon.

A former caddy at Lanang in Davao, Quiachon assembled a six-birdie, one-bogey round to put himself in solid contention for the second straight week after also ending the first round at Apo tied for third spot.

“I’m not surprised that I am in the lead because this course suits my game pretty well,” Pactolerin, who struggled in the past legs after having corrective eye surgery, said in Filipino.

“Most of the players here can score in this course,” he added. “One would have to go low in all three rounds to have a chance at winning.”

A total of 25 players cracked par with a six-man group led by Juvic Pagunsan and amateur Jonel Ababa shooting 68s and four players just another shot back.

Reigning RP Open champ Elmer Salvador and Cassius Casas, the former national champion, fired 68s like Louie Dacudao and Richard Sinfuego even as Elmer Saban, tied for second behind Pagunsan at Apo Golf, had a 69 like Danny Zarate, Demetrio Sanchez and amateur Dante Becierra.

Asian Tour regulars Artemio Murakami and Angelo Que shot 70s like seven others with Antonio Lascuna, despite being slowed down by the flu, firing a 71 like Ruben Sasutil, Erwin Vinluan and amateur Peter Villaber.

Among the favorites, only Jherome Delariarte, Ferdie Aunzo and Jay Bayron failed to break par, shooting 73s to remain in the mix heading into the final two rounds of the P1 million event offering P200,000 to the champion.

Mars Pucay, back in the circuit after a two-week absence, struggled to post a 75.

The leading scores:

66—R. Pactolerin 33-33; 67—E. Quiachon 35-32; 68—J. Ababa (Am) 36-32, E. Salvador 35-33, L. Dacudao 35-33, C. Casas 34-34, J. Pagunsan 34-34, R. Sinfuego 34-36; 69—E. Saban 35-34, D. Zarate 34-35, D. Becierra (Am) 34-35, D. Sanchez 33-36; 70—J. Bernis 36-34, A. Que 36-34, A. Engino 35-35, A. Murakami 35-35, G. Bondoc 34-36, Choi MS 34-36, G. Rosales 34-36, B. Magada 33-37, A. Fernando 33-37; 71—A. Lascuna 35-36, R. Sasutil 35-36, P. Villaber (Am) 35-36, E. Vinluan 34-37; 72—J. Rates 37-35, J. Balasabas (Am) 36-36, C. Villaroman 36-36, J. Plete 36-36.