4 long shots lead with 68s

TAGAYTAY—Rey Pagunsan, the sweet-swinging journeyman, shot a four-under-par 68 despite a bogey-bogey finish yesterday and joined a four-way tie for the lead after the first round of the ICTSI Splendido Classic here.

A teaching pro at Manila Southwoods, Pagunsan missed the last two greens and fell into a deadlock with Cassius Casas, Elmer Saban and Joenard Rates as the fancied bets wavered in the 54-hole tournament.

Antonio Lascuña and Carl Santos-Ocampo, the top favorites, struggled to a 76 and 81, respectively, and will need big second rounds to survive the cut.

Ocampo, who like Lascuña has won two legs this season, opened up with a 44 on the way to the worst round of his young pro career.

Another veteran, Benjie Magada, closed out with a bogey on the ninth, his last hole, for a 69 like Jay Bayron, with the Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk shooting a 70 like Marvin Dumandan.

Teen wonder Miguel Tabuena assembled a 71 to be three strokes off the pace like five others, including Korean Micah Shin and Japan’s Tomokazu Yoshinaga.

“I’m satisfied with my round overall, despite the poor finish,” said Pagunsan, uncle of the famous Juvic Pagunsan who has been suspended by the Tour for the rest of the year, in Filipino. “I just hope to sustain this good play (for the rest of the week).”

Casas, the former Philippine Open winner, also bogeyed the ninth, while Rates signed for a double bogey on the fifth and a bogey on the 12th that went with a day-best seven birdies.

“Some of the pin placements were really tough,” said Casas, whose last victory came at Del Monte after the first three players ahead of him were disqualified two years ago. “But if I play this well (in the final two rounds), I will be in contention.”

Saban, the wiry former caddy at Apo Golf in Davao, returned a bogey-free 33-35 card.

Other backers of the event: Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.