Hot Quiban paces PH Am classification stage

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Justin Quiban gunned down five birdies in a fiery 3-under-par 69 Monday to take the first-round lead in the classification stage of the Philippine Amateur Match Play championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Quiban, the only par-breaker at the well-manicured Palmer layout of the Orchard here, was four strokes up on unknown Lanz Uy, who carded a 73, and five ahead of the fancied Rupert Zaragosa, who had a 74.

After Tuesday’s final round of stroke play, the top 32 men and the top 16 women will advance to the match play stage of the event that is part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports. Pamela Mariano shot a 77 to pace the distaff side.

Park Min-ung, the Korean teener who won the 2013 PH Junior Am crown, fired a 75 to stay within striking distance of pocketing the No. 1 seeding and getting the lightest assignment in the first round of match play Wednesday.

Zaragosa, who withdrew due to injury after 24 holes while holding the lead of the Junior Am two weeks ago at Sherwood Hills, closed out bogey-bogey.

The winner of that event, Japan’s Gen Nagai, assembled a 77 to safely stay in the upper half of the standings.

Eddie Bagtas, whose return to the amateur ranks highlighted Luisita’s championship run in the PAL Interclub Senior tournament last February, fired a 76 like Niko Santiano and Japanese Yuuto Katsarugawa.

Tied with Nagai was Kristopher Arevalo, the 13-14 champion in the Callaway Junior Worlds in San Diego last year, and Raymund Sangil, the Orchard GM.

Del Monte stalwart Jelbert Gamolo and Ace Stehmeier were in the group of Nagai, with Raymart Tolentino firing a 79 like JP De Claro and Ian Arcilla.

Gabriel Manotoc, another national pool member, assembled an 80 with King Stehmeier shooting an 81 to also be in the upper half.