Carlos-Raymundo gains share of doubles lead

Jobim Carlos and Iñigo Raymundo fired identical two-over-par 70s for 140 yesterday to catch Aidric Chan and Ira Alido at the top of Group I play after two rounds of the NGAP’s fifth National Doubles Championship at the tight Aguinaldo course.

The pro-bound Carlos and Raymundo finished badly, with Carlos signing for a quadruple bogey 7 on No. 16 and Raymundo dropping a shot on the easy par-5 18th after an errant drive.

Despite these miscues, the duo—counting an opening 64 in four-ball play on Sunday—managed to climb into a tie with the youthful Chan-Alido partnership at 204.

The erstwhile first-round leaders combined for 142, with Chan skying to a 76 and Alido carving out a 66.

Ryan Monsalve and Lanz Uy were good for 146 and dropped five shots out of the lead, with Jama Reyes and Tom Kim also shooting 146 to be another two shots adrift ahead of today’s final-round play which shifts to individual.

The veteran Eddie Bagtas and partner Jojo Magcalayo pooled 145 for 213, with the defending champion tandem of Rupert Zaragosa and Joey Magcalayo practically bowing out of it all after a 146 despite the 67 of the many-time national champion Zaragosa.

The event is being backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific Investment Corp. and organized by the National Golf Assoaiction of the Philippines.

Cassy Isagawa and Regina de Guzman pooled 144 for 215 to take a four-stroke lead over the formidable pair of Harmie Constantino and Jona Magcalayo, who shot a 145 despite the 65 of Constantino. Musong R. Castillo