ORLAN Sumcad gunned down five of his seven birdies in the front nine yesterday to shoot a six-under-par 66 and zoom to a two-stroke lead over Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan halfway through the P2 million ICTSI Mount Malarayat Classic in Lipa City.
Knowing the course like the back of his hands, the long-hitting veteran made the turn at 31 that not even his first bogey of the week, which came on the par-3 15th, could prevent him from wresting the pace in the 72-hole championship.
With a 136 aggregate, Sumcad again put himself in solid position to score a breakthrough pro win as Bayron and Dumandan, who shared the first round lead with 67s, fired 71s for 138s.
Mars Pucay returned a second straight 70 for a 140, four strokes off the pace and with still a solid shot at a first title in four years.
Erwin Arcillas scored a 69 and caught the fancied Clyde Mondilla at 141 after Mondilla, winner of two legs this season, shot a 71.
Elmer Salvador, who won the 2009 Philippine Open in this composite Mount Malipunyo and Mount Lobo layout, fired a 69 to be in a five-man group at 142, counting long-time Philippine resident Guido Van Der Valk of The Netherlands, who matched par.
“My short game and putting clicked today,” Sumcad, who owns seven top 10 finishes but has never been able to close it out, said in Filipino. “I made some long putts out there today.”
Antonio Lascuna, the Order of Merit leader who is shooting to win a fifth championship this year, struggled to a 73, his chances taking a huge hit.
Eight shots behind, Lascuna would need to shoot a truly low round today to figure in the title chase tomorrow.
Highly-touted rookie Jobim Carlos, who lost in a playoff to Mondilla at Eastridge, also shot a 73 and was at 143, tied with former Open champion and Japan Senior tour aspirant Cassius Casas, who fired a 70, and Rico Depilo and Albin Engino, who submitted 71 and 70, respectively.