INQUIRER Sports

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines ? Amateur Jonel Ababa and Sherwood Hills champion Elmer Salvador fired three-under-par 69s Wednesday to share the lead heading into the final round of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour?s P1 million Valley leg.

The late-starting Salvador birdied the last two holes to catch Ababa, who dubbed a 3-wood second shot from 230 yards on the par-5 17th for a wet bogey 6 that cost him the solo lead.

?I got greedy by going for the green,? Ababa told the Inquirer in Filipino. ?But the final round is another day and I hope to not make the same foolish mistake again.?

At 137 after two rounds, the co-leaders will be in today?s final pairing with Ababa seeking to become the third amateur to triumph in this circuit and Salvador bidding to grab the Order of Merit race lead going into the final leg at Canlubang next month.

Four players shared third at 142 led by Richard Sinfuego, who fired a flawless 66 and first-round leader Gene Bondoc, who absorbed three straight bogeys from No. 13 for a 75.

Jun Bernis had a 72 and Ruben Sasutil a 73 to complete the four-way jam.

Also making a move was Mark Fernando, the reigning RP Am champ, who assembled a 71 for 143 together with ICTSI-Calatagan/Canlubang teammate Jessie Balasabas, who had a 75.

Former Philippine Open winner Cassius Casas also had a 73 and dropped in the company of Fernando and Balasabas and Ramil Bisera (70), Danny Zarate (70) and obscure Gary Sales (70).

Rufino Bayron, the first amateur to win in the revival of the pro circuit last year by nipping Jerome Delariarte in a playoff, missed the cut by a shot at 152 after a 75, together with ICTSI-Country Club teammate Antonio Asistio II, who ballooned to an 82 for 154.

The last amateur to triumph in this circuit was Fernando at the Riviera in Silang, Cavite, in September.