Jhonnel Ababa and Zanieboy Gialon carded 69s then watched Jay Bayron hole out with a triple-bogey to seize the halfway mark lead in the ICTSI Calatagan Golf Challenge at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas Thursday.
Counting his opening 70, Ababa pooled a 139, the same total posted by Gialon.
Bayron moved up by 3 only to bogey No. 6 and fell off the leaderboard with a seven on the ninth.
With his second 70, Bayron trailed Ababa and Gialon by one going to the third round of the P2.5 million event sponsored by ICTSI.
Erstwhile pacesetter Guido Van der Valk shot 71 and joined Bayron at 140.
Orlan Sumcad fired a 69, while 2000 Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales fired 71 to seize solo sixth at 141.
Fancied Tony Lascuña tallied another 71 and was in a big group at 142.