ANGELO Que birdied the 18th hole yesterday en route to a 2-under-par 70 and shared the opening round lead with Tony Lascuna at the start of the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at the Wack Wack’s East course.
The multi-titled Que capped off a round of 34-36 by watching Lascuna bungle on the last hole with a bogey to gain a share of the lead in this final leg of the 15-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The 41-year old Lascuna is aiming to end the year on a rousing note by claiming the Order or Merit award and appeared to be on the right track with a three-birdie streak starting on the third hole.
With all but one of the pre-tournament favorites in the main pack, a wide-open battle for the top P450,000 purse looms in the 72-hole event.
Cebuano ace golfer, Charles “Chuckie” Hong, who is seeking a follow-up to his maiden win at ICTSI Pueblo De Oro, birdied the par-5 13th to salvage a 71, to lead a four-man group of one-under scorers who included the big-hitting Orlan Sumcad, Solomon Gines and James Ryan Lam.
Defending champion Frankie Minoza, who charged back from seven strokes down in the final to win last year’s crown, fought back from a two-over card after four holes with birdies on Nos. 7 and 11 as the two-time Philippine Open winner joined Sherwood and Aboitiz Invitational champion Elmer Salvador, pro-am winner Carl Santos-Ocampo and John Salvador at seventh with 72s.
Only last year’s OOM champion and Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan strayed too far behind the leaders as he hobbled with an awful seven-under 79 marred by a 41 at the front. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio