Eagles propel hot Que, Bowen to pacesetting 64s
CARMONA, Cavite – Angelo Que and American James Bowen had identical eagle-spiked rounds of 64 yesterday and shared the lead at the start of the Aboitiz International at Manila Southwoods.
Que got going with a birdie on the second hole, then on the sixth before shooting an eagle on the eighth, a par-four, 540yard hole.
The three-time winner on the Asian Tout hit a good drive and an even better second shot, a three-iron from 230 yards. He overshot the green and then pitched in from 10 yards out for the eagle.
Que had four more birdies coming home, from inside four feet on Nos. 10, 11 and 13, and from 15 feet on No. 14 for the bogey-free round of 64 in the $100,000 event serving as the kickoff leg of the eight-stage inaugural PGT Asia Tour put up by ICTSI.
“I just feel comfortable in this course. This is one of my favorite courses,” said Que, who will turn 39 in December.
“I’ve been playing here since I was a teenager. I’m just so used to it – with or without the wind,” added Que, who was in a 7:30 a.m. flight that included hotshot Miguel Tabuena (65).
Bowen, a mainstay of the Asian Development Tour who is seeking his first big win since 2013, briefly held on to the lead at nine-under but fell back into a tie with Que after two bad chips and a bogey on No. 17.
“It’s still a good round for me,” said the 30-year-old American, who also eagled No. 8 with a 40-foot putt after reaching the green in two with a three-wood from 255 yards.
Not even an hour-long lightning delay could deny Bowen the hot start. He just holed out with a par on the 13th when the air horn sounded and signaled the halt of play.
Action resumed an hour later and Bowen grabbed the lead from Que with a birdie on the 14th, his seventh for the day.
Tabuena also had a great round, going seven-under and putting himself in a very good position heading to the second round of the 72-hole championship sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
A total of 122 players from around 17 countries are vying for the top purse of $17,500.
Jay Bayron, last year’s Aboitiz Invitational winner, opened up with an even-round 72.