Micah Shin carved out a flawless 6-under-par 66 yesterday and wrested a two-stroke lead over Jay Bayron halfway through the P3.5-million ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational in Morong, Bataan.
Shin, an American-Korean who honed his skills at Apo Golf in Davao, fired three birdies in each nine for a 137 total, with Bayron rebounding with a back-side 32 for a 69 and 139.
Antonio Lascuña, the three-time Order of Merit champion, had four birdies in a 69 for 140 with the fancied Angelo Que making up for an opening 74 with a 67 to emerge in serious contention at 141, like Cassius Casas, who shot a 68.
Long-hitting Orlan Sumcad and the veteran Mars Pucay shot 71s and stood at 142 and 143, respectively, even as first round co-leaders Zannie Boy Gialon (77-146) and Nilo Salahog (80-149) struggled to fall way off the pace.
Frankie Miñoza shot a 70 and rose to 144, in a tie with Rufino Bayron (70), Park Jun-hyeok (73) and Miguel Tabuena (73). Musong R. Castillo