INQUIRER Sports

SILANG, CAVITE?Tonlits Asistio birdied the 18th for the second straight day to keep his one-shot lead over Jonel Ababa after both fired one-over-par 72s halfway through the Southeast Asian Games golf team qualifying at Riviera?s Langer course here.

The long-hitting Asistio, who shot a 69 on Tuesday, actually birdied two of his last three holes to stay in front with a 141 aggregate.

Ababa also maintained his one-shot edge over Peter Villaber, who also carded a 72, even as national amateur champion Mark Fernando rallied with a 71 and advanced to fourth with a 144 total.

Only the top four players after 72 holes in this elimination being conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines will join seeded Marcel Puyat in the RP squad.

The US-based Judson Eustaquio, after a 72 on Tuesday, got into trouble in his final eight holes and took a 76 for 148, four behind Fernando.