Justin De Los Santos is in contention to challenge for another trip to The Open Championship following an encouraging start at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open on Thursday.
The Filipino overcame a topsy-turvy round en route to firing a four-under-par 68 at the JFE Setonaikai Golf Club, putting him five shots back and in a seven-way tie for ninth place.
Related: Juvic Pagunsan a picture of grit after second JGTO win
De Los Santos, who tied for 14th at last week’s Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament for his best finish yet this season, bagged three birdies to offset a bogey and a double bogey to card 36 on the front-nine.
However, he bounced back superbly with four birdies on holes 11, 12, 16, and 18, positioning him five shots behind runaway leader Kazuki Yasumori, who returned a brilliant 63, containing an eagle, eight birdies, and a bogey.
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Ryo Ishikawa, the 2009 winner, and former world No. 1 amateur Keita Nakajima were among the seven players carding a 67 to be four shots off the pace.
There’s a lot at stake for De Los Santos this week as he aims to build on his good start and make a push for his maiden JGTO title.
The Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open last year was also where the Filipino had his best outing on Tour. He finished solo fourth, securing the last ticket to The Open at St Andrews in July last year.
De Los Santos made his major championship debut with a tied-74th place finish.
The top four finishers this week who have not yet qualified will earn their place in the fourth and final Major event of the year, to be played at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club from July 20-23.
Having shot his career’s best score in his only seventh start on Tour, the 25-year-old Yasumori has refused to get carried away just yet.
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“I’m so happy today, the 63 I shot was my best score ever, official or non-competitive,” he said.
“It’s only the first day, I don’t feel nervous or anything like that. I just hope I can continue to play consistently for the remainder of the week.
“For now, all I’m aiming for is to achieve good results through the tournaments I get into so that I can participate in the latter half of the season.
“I’m holding a conditional status after finishing 12th in the Final Qualifying Tournament last year, I want to improve on that.”
