Elmer Salvador made a bold move in his quest to repeat as ICTSI Riviera Classic champion, shooting a second round 4-under-par 67 to tie ageless wonder Frankie Miñoza for the 36-hole lead at the Langer layout in Silang, Cavite.
The soft-spoken Salvador gunned down six birdies in his 33-34 card for a 139 total like Miñoza, who nailed all four of his birdies in the back nine for a 68 in the P1.5 million event.
Salvador and Miñoza had a one-shot lead over Clyde Mondilla, who shot a 70 like Mars Pucay, the veteran seeking to end a two-year drought, who was another stroke back and the last player with a sub-par total at 141.
“I knew that I had to make a move today if I want to have a good chance at repeating,” Salvador, also the winner of an all-Filipino Philippine Open in 2009 at Malarayat, said in Filipino. “I am just glad that everything worked for me today.”
First-round leaders Benjie Magada and Antonio Lascuña faltered, shooting a 73 and 74, respectively, with Magada now at 142 in the company of four others, including Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk, who fired a 69.
Lascuña, who drained the fifth ace of his career in an opening 69 on Wednesday, signed for a fat quadruple bogey 8 on the 11th hole to finish at 143.
Miguel Tabuena, the Splendido leg winner early this season, matched par 71 for 144 together with John Rey Pactolerin, the obscure Villamor teaching pro who shot a 74 after starting the day just a stroke off Magada and Lascuña.
The cut was pegged at 150, with former Philippine Open champ Robert Pactolerin, who shot a 71, and the veteran Jun Bernis, who had a 75, missing the mark by a shot.