Gialon pads lead with 68

Zannie Boy Gialon rode a strong start to shoot a four-under-par 68 and storm to a three-shot lead over Mark Fernando halfway through the P1.5 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Gialon birdied three of his last five holes on his front side—the back nine—for a 35-33 card and a 134 total even as Fernando wheeled into solid contention with a bogey-less 67 to move up at 137.

Elmer Saban and Charles Hong, no strangers to winning in this tour, fired a 67 and 69, respectively, and trailed by four shots going into the final two rounds of the event that dangles P270,000 to the champion.

Rufino Bayron, who was just two shots off in second place at the start of the day, slowed down with a 71 for 139.

“I just putted well in the first two rounds,” Gialon, a former caddy at Apo Golf in Davao, said in Filipino.

The Graham Marsh-designed layout continued to yield sub-par cards because of the rain-softened greens caused by Typhoon Luis with 19 players remaining under-par and the halfway cut pegged at just five-over 149.

“The greens are biting that’s why we can target the pins,” Fernando, who like Gialon and Bayron are products of the defunct National Caddies’ Open, also said in Filipino. “It could all go down to putting and Zannie Boy I heard putted well.”

Micah Shin, who was tied with Bayron at the start of the round, carded a 72 and dropped in the company of Omar Dungca, Arnold Villacencio and 2009 champion Ferdie Aunzo at 140.

Aunzo fired a 71, while Dungca and Villacencio assembled 69s.

The event is backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp, KZG, ABS-CBN Sports & Action, Balls and Inquirer Golf.