DAVAO CITY – Kuresh Samanodi surged ahead with a bogey-free 70, distancing himself from erstwhile co-leader Ozeki Kakeru, who struggled with a 77 in the Philippine Golf Tour Q-School at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates course on Wednesday.
Simultaneously, local amateur Aidric Chan made a strong bid for one of the 30 spots available.
Samanodi, displaying composure and precision, carded birdies on holes 2 and 10, producing a pair of 35s.
Despite missing some birdie opportunities, the 30-year-old from Cotabato claimed a one-stroke lead with a five-under 139, surpassing amateur Drew Proctor of the US.
Proctor, having endured a roller-coaster round with six birdies and four bogeys, secured solo second at 140 with a second straight 70.
Chan mounted a late charge, turning a one-over card into a one-under 71, placing him solo third at 143.
American Collin Wheeler finished with consecutive 72s for fourth at 144, and Korean amateur Min Hyeok Yu fought back from a 74 with a 71, placing fifth at 145.
Ozeki Kakeru, who matched Samanodi’s 69 on Tuesday, struggled with a double bogey and five bogeys, dropping to a share of sixth at 146. Joseph Labajo recovered from an opening 76 with a 70 to tie Kakeru at 146.
Japanese Kei Matsuoka fell to eighth at 147 after struggling with a 75, while Kristoffer Arevalo seized solo ninth at 148, bouncing back strong from a 79 with an impressive 69. Ramil Bisera carded a 71 for a share of 10th at 149 with Korean Gwon Minwook and former two-time Q-School topnotcher Toru Nakajima of Japan.
The Top 60 and ties from the 107-player starting field will advance to the final 36 holes, with the Top 30 gaining Category 6 status in this year’s PGT. The 10-leg circuit will start at the Apo Golf and Country Club next week.
Filipinos Emilio Panimdim, Jr. and amateur Michael Uy, Randy Garalde, Carlos Packing, Edmar Salvador, Jr., Paul Echavez, Allan Remata, amateur Lanz Uy, and Brent Sumampong stayed in the hunt for PGT spots. The players outside the Top 30 will be placed in Category 7.
Among those who missed the cut were John Kier Abdon, Korean Gyuhyun Lim, Aussie Peter Stojanovski, Leonard Lofranco, Nico Evangelista, Anthony Fernando, and Australian Nathan Park.
Here are the players inside the Top 30:
139 – Kuresh Samanodi 69-70
140 – Drew Proctor (am) 70-70
143 – Aidric Chan (am) 72-71
144 – Collin Wheeler 72-72
145 – Yu Min Hyeok (am) 74-71
146 – Ozeki Kakeru 69-77, Joseph Labajo 76-70
147 – Kei Matsuoka 72-75
148 – Kristoffer Arevalo 79-69
149 – Ramil Bisera 78-71, Minwook Gwon 73-76, Toru Nakajima 76-73
150 – Kang Chon Koo 77-73, Emilio Panimdim Jr. 77-73, John Michael Uy (am) 75-75
151 – Kota Fukuyama 76-75, Randy Garalde 75-76, Kim Tae Won (am) 74-77, Carlos Packing 75-76, Edmar Salvador Jr. (am) 72-79
152 – Paul Echavez 80-72, Kim Tae Soo 75-77, Allan Remata 76-76, Daiya Suzuki 79-73, Lanz Uy (am) 76-76
153 – Koji Inoue 78-75, Saksit Jarat 72-81, Brent Sumampong 77-76
154 – Ricar Candinato 80-74, Kai Yasuma 81-73
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