Unheralded Thai takes Open command

STA. ROSA, Laguna—Thai Tawit Polthai conquered the dreaded The Country Club course on Wednesday, opening with a bogey-free five-under-par 67 to take a four-shot lead over Clyde Mondilla and two other foreign bets in the 101st Solaire Philippine Open.

Polthai overcame the heat and severe conditions in afternoon play with a near-impeccable short game and solid putting, producing three birdies inside 15 feet and a 10-foot eagle on the par-5 eighth off a 6-iron second shot from 183 yards for a 32-35 card that stood out on a day of soaring scores.

The 25-year-old Polthai finished out of the Top 20 in the lead-up tournament at Riviera last week, but was in his elements in the first round as the next nine players that make up the Top 10 could not even combine to match his score in relation to par.

“It’s a very tough, windy course. I’m really surprised to have shot a 67,” the Bangkok native said.

Mondilla, who missed the cut at Riviera, birdied two of the four par-5s and the par-3 third hole that went with bogeys on Nos. 6 and 9, to trail Polthai by four.

Defending champion Juvic Pagunsan had a difficult time, to say the least, signing for six bogeys in his first 16 holes before picking up his first shot on the next to card a 77 and be 10 shots back.

Another fancied local bet, Angelo Que, also struggled, shooting a similar 77 marred by six bogeys and a double bogey 6 on the uphill ninth.

Charng-Tai Sudsom, another Thai, stood in second three shots behind after mixing five birdies with three bogeys in a 70, with Aussie Jack Sullivan tying Mondilla at 71 after draining three of his five birdies in his last seven holes.

Nicholas Fung missed joining Mondilla and Sullivan with a bogey on No. 18 as the Malaysian ace dropped to a share of fifth at 72 with Thai Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Sam Gillis of the United States, Aussie Damien Jordan and locals Justin Quiban and Cookie La’O.

“My putting was off and made just one birdie,” rued Pagunsan, who came off a seven-shot victory at Riviera last week but made three straight bogeys from No. 5.

Jhonnel Ababa, winner of four PGT Asia legs, struggled when ranged against Jordan and Prom Meesawat, limping with a 79 to likewise fall below the projected cutoff line.