Fernando, 2 foreign bets share top spot

CARMONA, Cavite—Mark Fernando carved out a flawless 6-under-par 65 Wednesday to share the opening-round lead with two foreigners in the $60,000 ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship ADT.

The Zamboanga native carried the fight for the local contingent, turning in nines of 33 and 32 to share the lead with Thailand’s Natthapong Niyomchon and Japan’s Taichi Nabetani at the Legends layout here.

Niyomchon fired five of his eight birdies on the front nine while Nabetani needed to birdie the par-3 16th to salvage a 33-32 and take a share of a one-shot lead over two Thais and the Malaysian Gavin Green.

Green, a product of his country’s national program that aims to get him to the US PGA, had six birdies against a bogey for a 66 like Thailand’s Pannakorn Utahaipas and Pijit Petchkasem.

Jobim Carlos, the 23-year-old rookie who missed the cut at Luisita last month, played with better composure this time and shot a 67. He had seven birdies, a double bogey on No. 9 and a bogey on the par-5 17th which would have given him a piece of the lead.

Favorites Antonio Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena both struggled on a sweltering day, shooting a 71 and 72, respectively.