CANLUBANG—Journeymen Rey Pagunsan and Orlan Sumcad used hot front nines to churn out similar two-under-par 68s in trying conditions yesterday to lead the pros in the P5 million The Country Club Invitational at the exclusive, wind-swept layout here.
Past champion Antonio Lascuña, on the other hand, returned a 69 to trail the duo by a shot even as Princess Superal, the reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, fired a 67 from the white tees to lead the amateur event among ICTSI players.
Mars Pucay and Jonel Ababa returned 70s to be two back, with the fancied Angelo Que struggling to shoot a 72 to cling to a spot in the top 10 of the event held in honor of ICTSI founding chair Don Pocholo Razon.
For the past five years or so, or ever since current ICTSI president Ricky Razon started bankrolling the ladies national team, members of the squad have been invited to play in the event where they tee off from about 60 to 70 yards closer than the pros.
Pauline Del Rosario fired a 74 to be seven behind Superal.
Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas and Zannie Boy Gialon fired 71s with Jay Bayron, the third placer last year, shooting a 72 like Anthony Fernando to be in the company of Que.
Que is seeking to become the event’s first four-time winner, the only one who has that shot in the field after the temperamental Juvic Pagunsan has elected to snub the ICTSI Tour this year by refusing to pay a P25,000 fine for his reinstatement.
And with Que not at his best—at least in the first day—that has left the tournament a wide-open field.
Defending champion Frankie Miñoza and Miguel Tabuena both scored 73s to trail Rey Pagunsan and Sumcad by five shots.
Rey Pagunsan and Sumcad both birdied No. 1 to jumpstart their respective campaigns.
Sumcad, the long-hitter playing out of Malarayat in Lipa, actually played the front nine flawlessly, checking out with a 32 only to drop shots on the 10th and 12th holes before picking up his fourth birdie on the par-5 14th.
Rey Pagunsan gave that stroke back on the second before birdieing Nos. 4 and 5 and playing the last 13 holes in regulation for his finest start in the lucrative event that gives P1.5 million to the champion.