Que, six others ahead with 66s

CARMONA, Cavite—Angelo Que fired a 5-under-par 66 yesterday and was the only Filipino in a seven-man logjam that held a one-stroke lead over eight players after the first round of the $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational at Southwoods’ Legends layout here.

Earlier reported to be wanting to skip the event to rest, the jolly Que was as sharp as he could be, shooting down six birdies against a bogey for a 32-34 card over the soggy course that has been reduced to a par-71 as No. 14 was turned into a par-4.

Arie Irawan of Malaysia had a bogey-free 32-34, highlighting his round with a string of four straight birds from No. 6 to tie Que, Janne Kaske of Finland, Thailand’s Pijit Petchkasem, Japan’s Masaru Takahashi, Singapore’s Eugene Sim and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski.

Four local campaigners led by returning pro Tonlits Asistio and 2011 champion Jay Bayron fired 67s with the in-form Antonio Lascuña firing a 68 like amateur Jobim Carlos, veteran Robert Pactolerin and five others, just two off the lead.

Lascuña, the defending champion who won this event at the Couples course of The Riviera in Silang, Cavite, dropped his only shot on the 14th and failed to climb into the lead after missing makeable birdie putts on the 16th and 18th.

“The key will still be putting,” said Lascuña, who is gunning for a rare third straight triumph, in Filipino.

With the lift, clean and place rule in effect after strong overnight rains left water in some bunkers and muddied fairways, the Jack Nicklaus-created gem was at the mercy of the talented field with a total of 44 players cracking par.

Juvic Pagunsan, the Japan Tour veteran and former Asian Tour champion, also went bogey-free but managed just two birdies to trail by three like Artemio Murakami and seven others.

Miguel Tabuena recovered from a slow start to salvage a 71 and would need to make a major move today to stay in touch with the leaders.

Elmer Salvador, the two-time champion, also struggled to shoot a level 71.