Lam tallies 64 for early ICTSI lead
BACOLOD—James Ryan Lam leaned on a four-birdie binge coming home to fire a bogey-free six-under par 64 and post a two-stroke lead over Michael Bibat at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here yesterday.
Lam, who finished no higher than 14th and got cut twice in the first two legs of the circuit, hit two birdies at the back, where he started, of the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club then drilled in four straight birdies from No. 2 for a closing 31 at the par 35-35 layout.
He towed Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist still searching for his breakthrough win, who also turned in a bogey-free 66.
Dante Becierra and local bet Nilo Salahog shot 67s to complete the opening round surge by the lesser lights in the seventh leg of the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Tony Lascuna, the reigning Order of Merit leader with two victories, was actually on his way to crowding Lam and company in the lead but took a double-bogey mishap on No. 17 and settled for a 68.
He was later joined in fifth by Jojo Cruz, Fernando Santia and rookie pros Clyde Mondilla and Zanie Boy Gialon as the other fancied bets struggled at the tight course.
Jay Bayron, coming off a come-from-behind victory in the ADT Challenge in Jakarta last Sunday, never recovered from a three-bogey start after four holes at the back and finished with a woeful 76 (38-38).
Mhark Fernando hit three birdies against two bogeys to land at 69 in the company of Mars Pucay, Benjie Magada, Elmer Saban, Peter Villaber, Fernando Santia and Paulo San Gabriel.
Elmer Salvador, tipped to crowd Lascuna for the crown, blew an opening 33 with three bogeys coming home and settled for an even 70.
The ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic back-to-back champion fell into the company of John Hay leg winner Marvin Dumandan, Edgar Ababa, Ramil Bisera, Anthony Fernando, Joenard Rates, Aly Sinfuego and Arnold Villacencio.
Angelo Que also struggled with a 73 while Jhonnel Ababa could only submit a 74.
