Gines fires 70, sets PGT qualifying school pace

SOLOMON Gines turned in a two-under 70 to open a one-stroke lead over Danny Zarate at the start of the four-day ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course in Cavite late Tuesday.

Gines, who finished 62nd in the Order of Merit ranking of the recently concluded 2015 tour, gunned down five birdies, including three straight from No. 2, to wrest control of the 112-player field vying for the top 50 for berths in next year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Zarate hit four birdies but stumbled with a bogey and a double-bogey to settle for a 71 while Tonlits Asistio, who reverted back to amateur two years ago, launched his bid to regain his Tour card with a 72.