Mark Fernando (File Photo)

CARMONA, Cavite – Mhark Fernando came out of an hour-long delay due to threat of lightning in fierce form, birdying the par-3 16th to complete a bogey-free six-under 65 and force a three-way tie for the lead with Thai Natthapong Niyomchon and Taichi Nabetani of Japan at the start of the rich ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship ADT here yesterday.

Fernando took the cudgels for the local bets as fancied Tony Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena turned in mediocre rounds on a day the foreign aces put on a strong start and took eight of the top 13 spots as they led the assault on the hazard-laden layout turned into a par-71.

Niyomchon and Nabetani took advantage of calm conditions on early tee-times with the former highlighting his 31-34 card with four straight birdies from No. 3 before holing out with back-to-back birdie feats. He actually fumbled with two bogeys on Nos. 11 and 15 but tied with birdies on Nos. 9 and 13.

Thai Natthapong Niyomchon weighs his options from a stymied lie on No. 12

Nabetani also leaned on a fiery start of back-to-back birdies and closed out his frontside stint with two more birdies. He reeled back with an unlikely bogey on No. 10 but strung up three birdies on the next en route to a 32-35.

The troika stood a stroke up on another pair of Thais Pijit Petchkasem and Pannakorn Uthaipas and Malaysian Gavin Green, who finished with identical 66s fashioned out in varying fashions.

Organizers suspended play at 4 p.m., stranding a number of flights, including Tabuena, who blew a 34 start with a closing 38 marred by a double-bogey on No. 14. He wound up with a one-over 72 for joint 59th in his return from a pullout on a bad back at Luisita Championship two weeks ago.

Lascuña, on the other hand, struggled with his balky putter all day and settled for an even par 71. He hit three birdies but bogeyed the par-3 16th and dropped two shots on the par-4 No. 5 when he overshot the green, hit a fat third shot and made it in four and two-putted.

“I just couldn’t putt and missed at least four birdie chances,” rued Lascuña, who came into the $60,000 event, the first of two Asian Development Tour events, as one of the favorites following a runaway win at Luisita two weeks ago and playing on his home course.

Petchkasem blazed the frontside with an eagle-aided six-under 30 to offset his double-bogey on the par-3 16th, finishing with a 66 in a tie with Green, who rammed in six birdies against a bogey, and Uthaipas, who also sizzled with an opening 31 before slowing down at the back.

Taichi Nabetani of Japan watches his putt roll on No. 13

The Legends, turned into a par-71, took a severe beating from the morning group with 23 putting up under-par cards and eight matching par before it held up a bit when the wind began to whip up towards mid noon.

Former amateur star Jobim Carlos, out to atone for his missed cut pro debut at Luisita, looked headed for an explosive start but stumbled with a bogey on the par-5 17th and settled for a four-under 67, the same output put in by fellow locals Zanieboy Gialon, Albin Engino and Michael Bibat, Thais Nirun Sae-ueng and Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Japanese Masaru Takahashi.

Mars Pucay fired a three-under 68 for joint 14th with Thai Poom Saksansin, Malaysians Baxter Reeves, John Jackson, John Catlin, Thai Ekthumrong Luanganuruk and Indonesian Ian Andrew while Natthapong’s sibling Donlaphatchai Niyomchon shot a 69 to join the big group of two-under scorers, who included Japanese Yuta Sudo, Chinese Cao Yi, Thai Kasidit Lepkurte and Mitchel Slorach to stay in the early mix of contenders in the 72-hole championship co-sanctioned by the ADT and PGT and backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade and Champion.