Jolo Magcalayo claimed the top seeding by carding a three-under-par 69 laced with eight birdies on Wednesday, June 19, in a grand return to his home course as he towed the 16 qualifiers into the match play tournament proper of the Philippines Amateur Open Championship at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club north course.

Bucking jet lag after arriving only yesterday morning from California just hours before his first round tee time, Magcalayo continued his steady showing with a birdie-riddled scorecard including three in a row from the 13th and still ended with the day’s best score despite stumbling with two bogeys on his last three holes.

The Sta. Clara University golf scholar actually wound up in a tie with Rolando Bregente for low medalist honors but took the top seeding in the countback. Bregente tied Magcalayo at 141.

First day leader Jeffren Lumbo carded a 73 for a share of third with his 41-year-old mentor Gary Sales who became the oldest qualifier with his 72 for 142.

Sunshine Zhang was the runaway topnotcher in the ladies division with her 75-144, finishing 10 strokes ahead of Precious Zaragosa who checked in with a 74.

Zhang and Zaragosa led the eight qualifiers in their division for the match play stage starting today.

The match play cast will also feature the Korean lass Jiwon Lee (79-155), Anna Kei Fernandez (80-158), Crista Minoza (81-159), Juliana Go (80-165) and the Sarines twins, Lisa (81-159) and Mona (84-165).

It’s going to be an amazing marathon day in the men’s side as the Round-of-16 will be played in the morning and the winners playing in the afternoon quarterfinals.

Magcalayo tackles No. 16 Paqo Barro, Lumbo will battle No. 13 Edison Tabalin in a duel between Eastridge teammates while Sales clashes with the dangerous John Robert Bernis, the reigning club champion who is ranked 14th.

In other matches, Bregente goes out with Zachary Villaroman, No.5 Bobe Salahog collides with No. 12 Zeus Sara, No. 6 Paolo Wong squares off with No. 11 Patrick Tambalque and No. 7 Joshua Nicholas Buenaventura meets No. 10 Jacob Rolida.