Carlos, Constantino pull away

Photo from Inquirer Golf

Jobim Carlos took advantage of ideal conditions yesterday, shooting six birdies in a four-under-par 68 to wrest a six-stroke lead halfway through the Philippine Amateur Stroke Play championship at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki layout in Cavite.

The 21-year-old, who will turn pro next month when the local tour starts, highlighted his round with a two-putter birdie on No. 16 for a 141 aggregate in the 72-hole championship he is looking to win for the second straight year.

“It was a lot easier out there today because there was hardly any wind,” Carlos, who fired a 73 on Tuesday when blustery gusts bedeviled the field, said. “There’s still a long way to go. Two rounds is still a lot of golf.”

Ira Alido fired a 73 and was caught in second spot by Korean expatriate Jan Jung-ha, who matched par, at 147.
Harmie Constantino also pulled away in women’s play after shooting a 67 for a similar six-shot edge over Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso.

Constantino drained seven birdies as she tallied 140 in the event being conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and backed by Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific.

“It was easier out there today,” the pint-sized Constantino said.

Saso had two birdies and two bogeys for a 146. Lee Ji-hyeon and Hwang Min-jeong of Korea and Malaysian Nur Durrihay Damian were at 148 after rounds of 71, 73 and 74, in that order. Musong R. Castillo