Angelo Que collected five birdies in the back nine on his way to an opening four-under-par 67 in the International Series Korea Championship at the Lotte Skyhill Club in Jeju, South Korea Thursday.
The 43-year-old, one of only two Filipinos in the field, sit in a tie for seventh spot, four shots behind Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
“All in all, I’m happy how I played today,” said Que who had seven birdies. “Putted well today and hit really good wedge shots.”
He started his birdie spree on the second hole from eight feet and went 2-under after dropping a 15-footer on 7.
However, Que missed the green for bogey on 8 and lost the ball of a wayward tee shot on 9 to reach the turn on 1-over.
He rallied with five birdies in a six-hole stretch starting with a tapped-in on 11. He buried 25 and 30-footers on 13 and 14, respectively, made a testy five-footer on 15 before draining another putt from 20 feet.
Que last played in South Korea in 2013.
“Forecast was supposed to rain almost every day. I was really happy that we were able to play with no rain,” he said.
Miguel Tabuena, the only other Filipino in the field, began with a 70 behind two birdies against a single bogey.
Pavit had a spectacular start of seven straight birdies before making his lone bogey on 8. He added two more birdies on 11 and 16.
Korean Eric Chun was alone in second place on 65, thanks to six birdies.
Four players — Jazz Janewattananond, Justin Harding, Brett Rumford and Ian Snyman — were tied for third with similar 66s.