INQUIRER Sports

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Ferdie Aunzo struggled to a five-over-par 77 Monday but managed to cling to a precarious one-shot lead after 36 holes of the World Amateur Team qualifiers.

The reigning Philippine amateur champion posted a two-day total of 147 at Riviera’s Couples course here to remain one-up on Jessie Balasabas, the National Caddies Open product, who fired a 76.

With the pins tucked in all the difficult spots and the winds blowing from all directions, Rufino Bayron, Aunzo’s ICTSI teammate, had the day’s best round of 74 to move into a third-place tie with Jonel Ababa (77) at 150.

Youthful Tonlits Asistio was good for a 75 to be in fifth spot, another stroke adrift, even as Mark Fernando, a veteran of three RP teams last year, virtually kissed his hopes goodbye after an 80 for 156.

Erwin Vinluan continued to bring up the rear of the seven-man field despite a 77. He shot an opening 82 and lay 12 strokes off the pace with a 159 going into the last two rounds set over the Riviera’s difficult Langer layout.

The National Golf Association of the Philippines is conducting the tryouts to determine the three members of the team that will compete in the World Amateurs late next month in Adelaide, Australia.

Since the Johannesburg edition of the World Am in 2006, team lineups have been reduced to only three players with the top two scores counting each day.

Two trophies will be disputed—the Espiritu Santo for women and the Eisenhower for the men—with hostilities set to start on Oct. 9.

The men’s event will begin on Oct. 16.

The 29-year-old Aunzo, who will be using the World Am as his final big tournament before he tries his luck as a pro on the lucrative Asian Tour early next year, dropped shots on his first three holes on the back nine after making the turn at even par.

Aunzo had just one birdie for the day—on the fifth from 10 feet—against six bogeys. He scrambled to make pars in his final two holes.