Cebuano golfer Go recovers in PH Amateur Open

BUDDING Cebuano golf star Lloyd Jefferson Go put his composure on display as he recovered from a disastrous start to remain a stroke away from the lead after the first round of action in the 2014 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship yesterday at the windy Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

The 18-year old stalwart, who helped the Cebu Country Club to their second straight title in the PAL Interclub Championships last year, battling a sickness just before the competition, showed signs of it as he got off to a cold start as with two bogeys on the first four holes.

However, he managed to right the ship real quick by saving par on the fifth hole before reeling off birdies on the sixth, 10th and 13th holes to finish the round with a 70.

“I haven’t been really playing much in the United States. I practiced several times when I got back home but I got sick over the holidays. I wasn’t feeling very well the other day but I’m glad I played well. I don’t really have expectations for this tournament. I’ll just try to take this competition one hole at a time and we’ll see how it goes,” said Go in an interview yesterday evening.

Topping the first round was Jobim Carlos, who finished with a bogey-free one-under 71. It was a rough round for the packed field with the already tough greens being paired with the windy playing conditions.

In spite of those, Carlos played gutsy golf to end with a scorecard of 35-36. In third place were the trio of John Abdon and Singaporeans Johnson Poh and the defending champion Jerome Ng.

The 58-player field will be trimmed to 50 and ties after 54 holes. The top 30 after 54 holes will advance to the final round.

Another Cebuano who remains in the hunt was Japanese Gen Nagai, another ace of CCC who won the NGAP Visayas Regional Amateur Championships. He finished with an 80. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio