By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Sarit Suwannarut fired an impressive 8-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Laguna.
The 27-year-old Thai played solid by hitting nine birdies against a one bogey for nines of 32 and 32 to clinch a one-stroke lead over Kazuki Higa.
Starting on the back nine, Suwannarut opened strong with five birdies in his first 10 holes before slipping with a bogey on the par-3 No. 2. He quickly recovered, adding four more birdies including back-to-back ones to close out his round.
Suwannarut credited his recent change in putter in his tournament in Korea.
“I’ve been playing pretty good. I just tell myself that I can do it and that I can get a good result if I keep doing good,” said Suwannarut, who turned pro in 2018 and has two Asian Tour titles under his belt.
Higa, who won eight titles in the Japan Golf Tour, also made his campaign felt with a bogey-free 65 that consisted of seven birdies including four on the front nine.
Two-time Senior Major winner Richard Bland, Charles Porter, Chapchai Nirat and George Kneiser posted identical 66s, while former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson was three shots off Suwannarut after carding a 67 along with Gaganjeet Bhullar, Austen Truslow, Dean Burmester, MJ Maguire, Maximilian Rottluff and Chen Guxin.
Johnson, a two-time Majors champion, shot nine birdies against back-to-back bogeys on sixth and seventh, and a double bogey on the 15th.
“I’m still in good position. I had one bad drive on the 15th, but other than that, it was a solid round. We made a lot of birdies and also a few mistakes that we shouldn’t have, but hopefully we cleaned it up a little bit tomorrow,” said Johnson.
At crowded 14th place with 68s were Lee Soomin, Matthew Cheung, Wang Wei-hsuan, Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Peter Uihlein, Marc Leishman, Jazz Janewattananond, Jaco Ahlers and Ahmad Baig.
Miguel Tabuena, who was on the flight with Johnson, posted a 69, bouncing back from a front nine 36 with four birdies and a bogey on the last nine holes to become the top Filipino performer along with Clyde Mondilla.
“I got off to a good start, but slowed down a little bit. Still fighting some muscle spasms, but it is what it is. It’s not always 100 percent,” said Tabuena.
“I told myself there’s a lot more holes at the back nine that I can make more birdies, and it was nice to finish off that way, except for the 18th hole. I’ve never been on that bunker my whole life,” he added.
Overall, Tabuena said it was a surreal feeling having played with Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen on home soil.
“We had fun out there. It’s nice that these players walked my home course with me. It’s different. It’s surreal,” he said.
