VIENTIANE — The Philippines struggled against difficult pin placements Friday to trail Singapore by four shots at the start of the golf competition in the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

National champion Mhark Fernando and Tonton Asistio each carded one-under par 71s while Jhonnel Ababa added a 73 as the fancied team totaled 215, just one down behind second-running Thailand.

“We had a bad day but we’re still one down on Thailand,” said RP coach Tommy Manotoc. “If not for the two three-putts and one four-putt, we could have tied for the lead.”

“Singapore has a good team but I still think that Thailand would be our rival,” he added.

Ababa and Fernando had a bad day on the large greens unable to adjust to their speed and intricacies.

One such misadventure involved Ababa who faced a 25-yard putt from just off the green after overshooting the par-4, fourth hole.

Instead of pulling out his wedge as he normally does, Ababa chose to use his putter and watched in horror as the ball went past the hole by 20 feet. His second putt missed its mark by four feet and watched his bogey putt slid by the hole.

Ababa also three-putted the 14th as he put to waste his two birdies.

Fernando also had his share of three putts, but made two birdies inside six feet to salvage a 71.

“Biglang humirap mag-putt,” said Fernando who hit 13 greens.

Asistio handled the greens better, saving bogey from the water on the par-5, No. 6 and firing two birdies.

Jude Eustaquio, the United States-based golfer, sprayed his teeshot everywhere, hitting only five fairways for a 74 and did not count.

“I grinded it out. I had problems with my ball-striking, something that I have to do something later,” said Eustaquio.

Singapore, drawing a pair of 69s from Poh Swee Kiat Johnsom and Leong Kit Wai Jonathan, stormed in front with 211.

Thailand and Myanmar were tied for second with 214 as six countries were separated by only five shots.

The Thais, who won all four golds in golf in 1007, were powered by Wasin Sripattranusorn with a 69 and Thanyakon Khrongpha with a 71.

Three players – Poh, Leong and Wasin, shared the lead in the individual division with similar 69s, two shots ahead of Fernando and Asistio.

Manotoc said there are still many holes to play.

“They just have to keep their concentration,” he said.

The three-day women’s event tees off Saturday.