INQUIRER Sports

Mark Fernando, the reigning national amateur champion, fired a 6-under-par 66 Thursday to grab a piece of the lead going into the final 18 holes of the Hong Kong Open Amateur at the Discovery Bay Golf Club course.

The 27-year-old ace of PAL Interclub champion Canlubang posted a 54-hole total of 214 to tie Australian Daniel Nisbet, who shot a 68.

Jonel Ababa, the other Filipino bet, submitted the day’s best score of 65 and moved up to second, just a stroke behind at 215, in a tie with local bet Staunton de Lacy.

De Lacy matched Nisbet’s 68 to make it a four-cornered fight in the final round today with the winner earning a slot in the prestigious Hong Kong Open.

Steven Lam also stayed in the chase at 217 after a 71. Aussie Lester Peterson stood at 219 after a 74 followed by Singapore’s Jerome Ng (69-221) and Lam Zhi Qun (79-223).

Fernando and Ababa are priming up for next month’s SEA Games in Laos where they will be joined by Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron. Musong R. Castillo