Filipino-American Jaden Dumdumaya opened a one-shot lead over Carl Corpus and Enrique Dimayuga at the start of the 2023 National Stroke Play Championship at the Langer course of the Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite Tuesday.
The 16-year-old prodigy, who dominated the Junior Tour of North Carolina the past two seasons, hacked out an even-par 71 in stormy conditions.
“Jaden hits the ball like a pro. Ibang level,” said Dan Cruz who is hosting the Dumdumayas at his home.
“He has exceptional ball-striking skills. He shapes his shots very well.”
Heavy rains and strong winds sent scores soaring but Dumdumaya stayed calm, missing only three greens, all of which he saved par.
He made three birdies inside five feet but had three bogeys on three-putts.
Dumdumaya, a junior at De La Salle High School in California, had nothing but praise for his caddie.
“He kept my grips dry,” he told Cruz after the round.
Corpus said his 72 felt like two-under, considering the conditions.
“It was stormy out there,” said the 21-year-old San Jose State University standout who had two birdies against three bogeys.
Dimayuga, the 21-year-old University of Arkansas ace, was on top of the leaderboard on 3-under through 15 holes before unraveling in the homestretch.
He three-putted 16 and 17 for bogeys and needed four putts to hole out for double bogey on 18.
Corpus said Dimayuga was fuming as he reached the clubhouse but later calmed down.
“There’s still a lot of golf to be played,” Corpus said.
Luigi Paolo Wong of San Jose State U was alone in third place after a 75, two shots ahead of Kristoffer Arevalo, Shinichi Suzuki, and Jet Hernandez.
Tied with 78 apiece were Aidric Chan, Gabriel Macalagium, and Elee Bisera while bunched on 79s were Lloyd Labrador, Masaichi Otake, Lo Yung-Cheng.
Only 54 players completed play as of presstime.
The early results:
71 — Jaden Dumdumaya
72 — Carl Corpus, Enrique Dimayuga
75 — Paolo Luigi Wong
77 — Kristoffer Arevalo, Shinichi Suzuki, Jet Hernandez
78 — Aidric Chan, Gabriel Macalagium, Elee Bisera
79 — Lloyd Labrador, Masaichi Otake, Lo Yung-Cheng
80 — Edison Tabalin, Josh Jorge, Chris John Remata
81 — Perry Joseph Bucay, Alexander Bisera
82 — Rolando Bregente, Santino Diokno, Kim Tae Soo, Cherub James Alcantara, John Canlas
83 — John Edward Dy, Glenn Unabia
84 — Ryan Monsalve, Francis Lanuza, Joshua Buenaventura
85 — Jhondie Quibol, Erik Escalona, Sean Dominic Granada, Irfan Norshaharudin, Santino Laurel, Juan Miguel Hernandez
86 — Timothy Clark Co, Jet Mathay
87 — Park Yuhyun
88 — Marc Lu, Seonghyun Jun
89 — Adrian Romero
90 — Angelo Joseph Ballesteros
91 — Javi Lazatin, Byungchu Jun
92 — Paqo Barro, Alfonso Barro, Eduardo Vicente Puyat, Zach Castro, Jacob Rolida
93 — Justin Choi, Rajah Crisostomo
94 — Lorenzo Angeles
96 — Matthew Miguel Fabiala
97 — Renmar Ernest Samonte
115 — Robert Poblete
