Voke takes Philippine Open lead with five-under 65
Thailand's Nopparat Panichphol sits one stroke behind, while Justin Quiban is the only Filipino to finish the opening round under par.
New Zealand's Nick Voke opened the 108th Philippine Open with a five-under-par 65 in Carmona, taking a one-stroke advantage over Thailand's Nopparat Panichphol at the Manila Southwoods Masters course.
Voke made six birdies and a single bogey, dropping his only shot after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the 12th. The 32-year-old said he relied mainly on his 3-wood to reach the fairways and avoid the tall rough. Both he and Panichphol played in the relatively calmer morning conditions.
Justin Quiban led the Filipino challenge with a 69, four strokes behind Voke. An eight-foot birdie putt at the eighth, his penultimate hole, helped him finish under par despite a double bogey at the 16th and a bogey at the sixth.
Carl Corpus and Lloyd Go each returned level-par 70s. Corpus slipped from two under after bogeys at the 12th and 13th, while Go birdied the final hole. Enrique Dimayuga, Elee Bisera and Reymon Jaraula each recorded 71.
Andy Ogletree and Kevin Na were among five players on 67. Pavit Tangkamolprasert was among three Thai golfers on 68, alongside South Korea's Taehoon Ok. Micah Shin joined Quiban on 69 after also making birdie at the eighth.
Former champions Angelo Que and Clyde Mondilla faced more difficult starts. Que, the 2008 winner, carded 75 after a double bogey at the sixth, while Mondilla shot 76.
