INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Mars Pucay of the Philippines and Thailand's Wisut Artjanawat took joint lead after the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines Friday.

Wisut fired a four-under-par 68 to join first-round leader Pucay at the top of the leader board on a tournament total of 10-under-par 134.

Pucay, 38, who last year won twice on what used to be called the ASEAN Tour, raced into an early lead after touring the front nine in four under, but ended with a three-under-par 69.

"The front nine was really good but I just couldn't hole the putts on the back. It is a bit frustrating," said Pucay, who won in the Philippines and Vietnam last year during the circuit's inaugural season to finish on top of the order of merit.

Wisut, who toured the course without carding a bogey on the first day, made two in the second round, but six birdies put the 26-year-old in an excellent position going into the weekend.

Filipino Anthony Lascuna and teen Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand are two off the lead after both returning 67s.

Leading second round scores:

134 - Mars Pucay (PHI) 65-69, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 66-68
136 - Anthony Lascuna (PHI) 69-67, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 69-67
137 - Ronnachai Jamnong (THA) 70-67
138 - Angelo Que (PHI) 68-70, Ray Pagunsan (PHI) 68-70
139 - Maan Nasim (IND) 72-67, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 70-69, Shaaban Hussein (MAS) 70-69, Somchai Pongpaew (THA) 70-69