Manila, April 3: Australia’s Gavin Flint took charge in the early stages at the Philippine Open after a five-under-par 67 on Thursday.
 
Flint, 26, birdied his last two holes in the opening round for the early lead over Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand and Australian Ashley Hall who trails the leader by one stroke in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
 
Thai youngster Wisut Artjanawat was in lone fourth spot after a 70 while compatriot Atthaphon Prathummanee was in a tie for fifth place after a 71 alongside Filipino duo of Artemio Murakami and Marlon Dizon, Chinese Taipei’s Chang Tse-peng and Australian Brad Kennedy.
 
But it was the Brisbane-based Flint who was pleased to have bounced back from a slow start this season as he fired six birdies against a dropped shot at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
 
“I played well and made the putts today. I started on the back nine and was three under. I came home on two under so it was nice to be playing steady,” said Flint, who hopes to improve on his 48th ranking on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. The Australian talent made the cut in four out of the seven events this season as he hopes to break into the top-10 this week.
 
“I had a slow start to the season but I made the putts today compared to the other weeks which was the main difference for me.
 
“I think the key is to stay out of trouble and that’s what I did. I will now head out and hit some balls and then go back, relax and get ready for the second round. There will not be a great deal of difference teeing off in the afternoon tomorrow, maybe just a bit more wind but it would not affect my game. I hope to stay in the thick of the fray and change things around with a solid result this week,” admitted Flint, who is competing in his third season on the Asian Tour.
 
Chawalit, a two-time winner in Asia, blasted five birdies against a lone dropped shot as he hopes to better his 2002 performance in Manila.
 
“I held the share of the lead in 2002 but this year, I hope to finish the tournament on top. I like this course very much as you need to keep it on the fairway which was what I was doing today.
 
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence since the Asian Tour International as it helped get my game back on track. I’m riding on that form now,” said Chawalit, who finished tied 13th in Pattaya two weeks ago.
 
Hall, who won four titles as an amateur, enjoyed a bogey free round firing a 68 today.
 
“It is always nice to go bogey free around this course which is one of my goals this season. This tournament was my first ever event on the Asian Tour last year so it’s nice to be back here,” said Hall.
 
“I am still learning but I’m a lot more consistent now. I had not many long putts today but I must have come close to a hole-in-one on the seventh as the ball was three foot behind the pin. I didn’t take advantage of the par fives but I’ll take a four under any day given the tricky conditions,” added Hall, who won his third event as a professional at the 2007 Victorian PGA Championship.