Jerlbert Gamolo birdied three of the last seven holes on the way to three-under-par 69 and a one-stroke lead over Jobim Carlos and Luis Castro after the first round of the 15th Canlubang Amateur Open at Cangolf’s South course in Laguna yesterday.
Gamolo, out to atone for his final-round meltdown here last year, birdied Nos. 11 and 15 to pull even with Carlos and Castro before seizing the lead with a closing birdie in the 54-hole tournament.
Carlos, who has opted to stay in the amateurs despite topping the pro circuit’s qualifying school early this year, and jungolfer Castro failed to match Gamolo’s back-nine charge for 70s on the strength of identical 34s on the front nine.
Riviera’s Ira Alido matched par 72 on nines of 36-36 and stood in solo fourth.
Defending back-to-back champion Park Min-ung, also of Riviera, eagled No. 11 to salvage a 73 and tie Southwoods’ Yuto Katsuragawa in the centerpiece Open division.
Royal Northwoods’ Carlos Gatmaytan and Jun John of Riviera turned in 76s while Eastridge’s GJ Katigbak and John Uy of Valley Golf carded similar 77s.