Van der Valk takes 2-shot lead
By Waylon Galvez
STA. ROSA, Laguna – Dutch Guido Van der Valk bucked a two-stroke penalty for hitting a wrong ball as he turned in a four-under 68 and grabbed a two-shot lead over Fil-German Keanu Jahns at the start of The Country Club Invitational at the windy TCC course here yesterday.
Van der Valk birdied all but one of the four par-5s and added three more, including the difficult par-4 18th that highlighted his 34-34 card in blustery condition.
On the 15th, however, the 36-year-old Dutchman was penalized for hitting the ball of flightmate Orlan Sumcad and settled with a double-bogey.
Van Der Valk was able to recover, though, as he saved pars on the next two holes then finished his round with a birdie on 18th – his sixth – for a two-shot advantage over Jahns.
Van Der Valk was pleased with his performance despite hitting a wrong ball.
“The double-bogey was a bit unfortunate,” said Van Der Valk, who is married to Loradelle – a Filipina – and is now based in Alabang. “It was almost a perfect golf… other than that (double-bogey), I think I played good.”
“On this golf course, any birdie is important. But more importantly for me is that round is good. I’m not as afraid to miss the green, there was good chance to putt,” added Van Der Valk, who also birdied the fifth, 10th, 12th and 14th.
Jahns, whose father is from Germany, described his opening round as “fantastic”.
He birdied the 8th, 10th, 12th and 18th but bogeyed the 13th and 16th.
“It’s a fantastic score for a condition and course like this. It’s windy,” said Jahns, whose biggest shot in the first round of the tournament was a difficult 30-foot uphill putt on 12.
“I think I just have to relax and not get ahead of myself… and enjoy. If the wind comes, lots of patience – that’s what one needs on a course like this,” added Jahns when asked on his mindset going to the second round.
Miguel Tabuena, the defending TCC champion, three shots off the Dutch.
Tabuena opened his campaign with a birdie but had a roller-coaster showing after that.
His other birdies were on the 8th, 10th and 14th and his bogeys were on the 6th, 11th and 16th.
A stroke farther back was American Micah Shin who had a 72.
Tied for fifth to sixth places at 73 are Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa, while Angelo Que and Elmer Salvador both had a 75 in this tournament that offers R1.5 million to the winner.
