ARDINA

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Unheralded Joenard Rates birdied three of his last 12 holes to seize a one-shot lead over Angelo Que, Mars Pucay and Marvin Dumandan at the start of The Country Club Invitational golf tournament Thursday.

Rates, making only his third appearance in the cash-rich event, fired a three-under par 67 and found himself the bewildered leader.

“Di ko in-expect na mag-a-under [par] ako,” the 29-year-old Rates said. “Gumana lang talaga yung putting ko.”

Rates missed the cut last year and placed 17th on his first attempt two years ago.

On a day when birdies seemed hard to find, Rates used a hot putter to save pars and drain birdies. He had 28 putts. He offset two bogeys with five birdies, including a 35-foot monster putt on the 15th hole.

Que, who finished second behind Artemio Murakami last year, had five birdies against a bogey and a double bogey on the eighth hole which he four-putted.

Pucay three-putted the final hole and dropped to a share of second place.

Dumandan, on the other hand, finished strongly despite taking four bathroom breaks – three at the front nine – due to loose bowel movement.

“Sinuwerte lang siguro ako. Mas kumportable na ang feeling ko nung nasa back nine na ako,” said Dumandan, who turns 30 in two weeks and now a full-time Asian Tour campaigner.

Dumandan missed the green three times and bogeyed his first three holes before rushing to the restroom on holes No. 4 and 6. He birdied No. 8 from the greenside bunker to make the turn at 37 and collected birdies on No. 13, 14, 17, and 18.

National amateur champion Mhark Fernando was all alone at fifth place following a 69.

Bunched at 70 were Juvic Pagunsan, Ramil Bisera, Rolando Marabe, Michael Bibat, and amateur Dottie Ardina.

Murakami, who is coming off from winning the final stage of the Asian Tour eliminations in Thailand two weeks ago, had a 71 in the company of Roberto Bernis Jr., Rey Pagunsan and 2009 Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador.

Seven golfers shared similar 73s in amateurs Rufino Bayron and Dante Becierra, Omar Dungca, Elmer Saban, Anya Tanpinco, Art Arbole and Gene Bondoc. Ferdie Aunzo, Richard Sinfuego, Cassius Casas, amateur Jerson Balasabas and Ruben Sasutil had similar 74s.

The scores:
67 — J. Rates 34-33
68 — M. Dumandan 37-31, A. Que 35-33, M. Pucay 34-34
69 — M. Fernando (Am) 33-36
70 — J. Pagunsan 36-34, R. Bisera 35-35, R. Marabe 35-35, M. Bibat 34-36, D. Ardina (Am) 32-38
71 — R. Bernis 38-33, A. Murakami 37-34, R. Pagunsan 35-36, E. Salvador 33-38,
73 — R. Bayron (Am) 39-34, O. Dungca 38-35, E. Saban 36-37, A. Tanpinco 36-37, A. Arbole 36-37, G. Bondoc 36-37, D. Becierra (Am) 36-37
74 — F. Aunzo 38-36, R. Sinfuego 37-37, C. Casas 37-37, J. Balasabas (Am) 37-37, R. Sasutil 36-38
75 — R. Pactolerin 40-35, T. Lascuna 40-35, F. Minoza 39-36, C. Villaroman 38-37, O. Sumcad 38-37, A. Asistio 37-38, J. Bayron 37-38, P. Villaber (Am) 39-37