Rates sizzles in first round of ICTSI Camp John Hay golf

DIMINUTIVE Joenard Rates was the biggest player in the field yesterday after posting a seven-under par 61 that allowed him to wrest the lead from Ferdie Aunzo at the start of the ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship in Baguio City.

Rates more than made up for his second round flameout from the Splendido Classic last month as he finished with three birdies at the front of the par-68 course. That birdie-binge capped Rates’ superb 32-29 round spiked by an eagle on the par-5 16th and against a lone bogey on No. 15 as he seized control from Aunzo, who teed off in the morning group and momentarily held on the lead with a 63.

Aunzo, trying to atone for his final round meltdown at ICTSI-Splendido, bucked a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 No. 6 with a cluster of six birdies, including four at the back that highlighted his 34-29 round.

Majority of the starting field cashed in on the short backside of the rolling layout that featured five par-3s and reachable par-5s with Terence Macatangay matching Rates and Aunzo’s finish with his own version of a 29 to lead four others with 64s.   /Correspondent Jonas Panerio