Ramos storms into contention, fires eagle-spiked 65 in Macao Open

Sean Ramos.

Pilipinas Golf

MANILA, Philippines — Sean Ramos made a compelling case for his readiness to compete on the international stage, firing a sensational eagle-laced five-under 65 to vault into a tie for 13th place halfway through the $1-million Macao Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club in China on Friday.

Undeterred by an up-and-down opening round of 70, Ramos bounced back with a fiery second-round performance that showcased not just his scoring ability but his resilience and short-game brilliance.

The 24-year-old Filipino, long touted as one of the most promising talents to emerge from the local circuit, stormed through the day with a string of highlights — most notably an eagle-2 on the par-4 No. 1, where he holed out.

Ramos also capitalized on two of the three par-5s on the back nine and added birdies on Nos. 2 and 4, leap-frogging from a share of 61st at the start of the round to as high as 10th on the leaderboard. A lone bogey on the par-3 seventh after a missed green slightly stalled his charge, but his 31-34 round left him at 135 – just four strokes off the clubhouse lead held by China’s Wocheng Ye, who carded a 66 for a nine-under 131.

Thai ace Sarit Suwannarut had moved to 10-under overall with two holes to play at press time.

More than just making the cut, Ramos’ second-round exploits ignited hopes of a strong weekend push from the former amateur standout now carving a path in the highly competitive Asian Tour. His performance under pressure, on a demanding par-70 layout, hinted at a maturity and poise that bodes well for his future on the international stage.

Despite struggling with his long game — hitting only seven fairways and missing six greens in regulation — Ramos put together a low round thanks to a masterful short game and pinpoint putting.

He needed just 26 putts, including five crucial scrambling pars, underlining a skill set that makes him a serious contender when his ball-striking catches up with his touch around the greens.

Ramos, who broke through on the Philippine Golf Tour last year in Cabanatuan, has long been viewed as a future star. His recent results are beginning to reflect that potential, with this latest performance serving notice that he belongs among the region’s best. With two rounds to play, a strong weekend could vault him into title contention — and firmly onto the radar of international golf watchers.

Meanwhile, Korean-American Micah Shin, a former PGT campaigner and winner of the The Country Club Invitational in 2018, continued his steady play with a second straight 67, moving into provisional joint ninth at 134.

Justin Quiban stood at three-under through 12 holes in his second round, while Miguel Tabuena withdrew after an opening 72.

Over in Tarlac, at the ADT Players Championship in Luisita, Angelo Que bounced back from a lackluster 72 with a flawless five-under 67 to surge into a tie for 16th alongside Carl Corpus, who followed up his 70 with a solid 69, for 139s.

The pair trailed joint leaders Michele Ortolani and James Leow by six strokes, as both carded matching 133s after rounds of 68 and 64, respectively.

Amateur standout Shinichi Suzuki kept his campaign alive with a 70 for a 141 total, while Enrico Gallardo slipped with a 73 and joined amateur Perry Bucay, who also posted a one-over card, at 144. Rolando Bregente, another Filipino amateur, struggled with a 75 after opening with a 70, dropping to joint 51st at 145 — just inside the 146 cutoff.