CEBU golf ace Weiwei Gao stayed within striking distance of the lead after an opening round 75 yesterday in the Philippine Amateur (Stroke Play) Open Golf Championship at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Cavite.
Gao, who recently won two titles at the Cebu Country Club Junior Open Championships, is tied for third with Aidric Chan and Luis Castro. The day, though, belonged to reigning champion Jobim Carlos who birdied No. 17 from close range to salvage a one-over 73 in tough conditions, for a one-stroke edge over Ira Alido.
Harmie Constantino bucked a bogey start with three straight birdies from No. 4 but fumbled with three bogeys the rest of the way to likewise shoot a 73 and wrest a one-stroke lead over Malaysian Nur Durriyah Damian and Yuka Saso in the women’s side of the event serving as the kickoff leg of this year’s PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.
Cebuana Lois Kaye Go is three strokes off the lead with a 76.
The top 50 in the men’s side after 36 holes and the top 30 in the women’s side will advance to the final two rounds of the annual event hosted by the Eagle Ridge GCC.