Austria continues fine form, leads PH Am golf

TRECE Martirez, Cavite—Jonar Austria continued to show hot form, shooting a one-over-par 73 yesterday to lead the classification round of the Philippine Amateur Men’s Closed championship at Sherwood Hills here.

Just two weeks after finishing second in the DHL Am in Canlubang, Austria put in motion his bid for a breakthrough championship as he took a one-stroke lead over Del Monte bet Reymon Jaraulla and Jik-Jik Abdon in the event serving as the third leg of the Globe-NGAP circuit.

Dottie Ardina took command of women’s play by returning a 76 for a four-shot lead over ICTSI teammate Sunshine Baraquiel. Today’s second round will determine the rankings for the match play starting tomorrow.

Abdon signed for a closing 39 and fell into that tie with Jaraulla, but the former Canlubang mainstay in the PAL Interclub still stood a stroke ahead of Magno Arancon and two over the dangerous Gio Gandiongco.

Rainstar Roque fired an 84 and was third in the women’s division of the event being backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot, Titleist, Empire Golf, Suntrust and Airphil Express.

Jayvie Agojo fired a 85 and was tied with Apple Fudolin, with former Philippine Am champion Lovelyn Guioguio struggling to post an 87 as whipping winds and the humidity bedeviled the field.

Lino Magpantay, meanwhile, seized the early lead in seniors play, shooting an 80, four ahead of Bing Bunyi, who had an 84, with Kinichi Kitamura running in third with an 87.

Caloy Coscolluela and Bonifacio de Castro each had a 90.

Dennis Gonzales fired a 78 as he took a three-shot lead over Nico Santiago, who made an 81, in the mid-amateur division of the event conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.