Fung fires 66, leads by one

CARMONA, Cavite—Getting the benefit of an early start that meant ideal scoring conditions, Nicholas Fung gunned down seven birdies on the way to a six-under-par 66 Thursday and a one-shot lead after the first round of the Resorts World Manila Masters.

The 25-year-old Malaysian, coming off a second place finish in Singapore last week, signed for nines of 33-33 over the well-manicured Masters layout to pace Poom Saksansin of Thailand and Hung Chien-yao of Taiwan by a shot in the $1-million Asian Tour event presented by Manila Southwoods.

Long-hitting Orlan Sumcad, using the driver just seven times, was the best-placed Filipino after a 68, in a tie with Australian Sam Brazel, Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan and Taiwanese Lee Chieh-Po.

“I feel very confident about my game,” Fung said. “Definitely, finishing second (last week) has given me a confidence boost. It’s good to come into (a tournament) with good form.”

Rufino Bayron and Clyde Mondilla assembled 69s and were in a 14-man logjam that include pocket-sized South African Jbe Kruger.

Another shot farther back were Antonio Lascuña, Miguel Tabuena, Jun Bernis and Jonel Ababa.

Sumcad also teed off early and didn’t need to battle the gusts that bedeviled many in the talented field, including the fancied Angelo Que, who had to fight back from a double bogey-marred three-over card after six holes to salvage a 71.

“I felt that the most important thing is to always find the fairway,” said Sumcad, who needed just 27 putts to complete a 34-34 round. “This course will punish risk-takers, because missing the fairways would mean difficult second shots because of the tall roughs.”

The baby-faced 23-year-old Hung had it at 7-under after 14 holes only to finish bogey-par-bogey from No. 7. He hit six of his eight birds in a sizzling 31 in the back nine, his first nine.

Defending champion Mardan Mamat of Singapore, playing alongside Que, wasn’t as sharp, though, and signed for a 74.

Also the PH Open champion in 2012, Mamat birdied three of his last five holes to stay within striking distance of the halfway cut. He had said on Wednesday it would require someone to shoot “more than 20-under” to win.

Former PH Open winners Cassius Casas and Robert Pactolerin also fired 71s like Que to be in a 15-man bunch that included 2011 champion Berry Henson of the United States and another Filipino, Joenard Rates.