Rico Hoey —AFP
A couple of aces carrying the Philippine flag in the professional golf circuit came through with solid games to stay in contention for a shot at the crown on Thursday.
And a familiar name now bearing the Japanese flag wasn’t doing bad herself, either.
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In Japan, PGA Tour campaigner Rico Hoey shot a three-under 67 to stay four shots off the lead after one round of the Zozo Championship at Narashino Country Club in Chiba.
Hoey trailed American Taylor Moore, who fired a 63.
Hoey, born in Manila but raised in the United States, is coming off a tie for third in the Shriners Children’s Open, where he bagged his biggest paycheck so far worth $413,000 (close to P24 million) and also placed second in the ISCO Championship in July.
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In Kuala Lumpur, Bianca Pagdanganan, who finished fourth in the Paris Olympics for the Philippines, shot a two-under 70 to stay within seven shots of the lead in the first round of the LPGA Maybank Championship.
Japanese rookie Mao Saigo carded a nine-under 63 to take a one-shot lead in the tournament.
Yuka Saso, who once represented the Philippines but now plays under the Japanese flag, shot a 66 to join a six-player logjam at fifth, just three shots down.
Saso is a double major winner on the LPGA Tour, winning the US Women’s Open twice, the first when she was still listed as a Filipino.
The 23-year-old Saigo, who had 10 birdies against a lone bogey at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, said: “The course is difficult because there is so much up and down, but I am enjoying myself playing here.” —REPORTS FROM INQUIRER SPORTS, AFP
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