Gab Manotoc birdied the last hole to save a two-over-par 70 while Lester Lagman carded a 71 as they combined for 141 in aggregate play to grab the lead in the second day of the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in Quezon City on Thursday.
Manotoc, taking time out from his studies at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, hit two birdies against four bogeys in a windy day for a 36-34 round while Lagman tallied 36-35.
Counting their 62 in the opening four-ball format Wednesday, Manotoc, a second year in advertising in the US NCAA Division II school, and Lagman took charge at 203, one ahead of Paolo Wong and Don Petil, who pooled a 143 for a 204.
Erstwhile, pacesetters Ryan Monsalve and Lanz Uy groped for form with a 146 total and slipped to third at 205.
The rest stood too far behind to contend for the crown heading to the deciding two-ball, foursome (alternate shot) format of the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation.
Rupert Zaragosa gunned down five birdies against two bogeys for a tournament-best 65 but teammate Adrian Romero limped with an 81 as they pooled a 146 for a 210.
Dan Cruz and Luigi Guerrero both shot 74, their 148 giving them a 214 total in a tie with Clare Legaspi and Felicia Medalla, who submitted 66 and 82, respectively.
Carlo Quimson and Aniceto Mandanas turned in a 73 and 77, respectively, for a 150 and a 216.
Meanwhile, Pierre Ticzon (80) and Allan Crisostomo (83) hiked their lead to three in Group II with a 163 for a 233 as Santino Diokno (77) and Miguel Roque (83) combined for a 160 and a 235.
Jimmy Suelo (77) and Allen Embuscado (81) shot a 158 and closed in on the Group III title with a 230 aggregate, seven shots ahead of Edwin Abesamis (72) and Hermie Salivio (72), who posted 237.