Rolando Marabe Jr. hit five birdies in a six-hole stretch from No. 9 on Wednesday to fire a three-under-par 69 and wrest a one-shot lead over another unheralded Filipino, Erwin Arcillas, and American John Jackson halfway through the $100,000 ICTSI Luisita Championship in Tarlac.
The 42-year-old teaching pro at Villamor signed for a 36-33 counting bogeys on Nos. 5 and 18 for a 136 that put him on course for a breakthrough pro title.
Arcilla, meanwhile, was flawless in shooting a 68, catching Jackson at 137 after the American shot a 70.
Teemu Putkonen of Finland assembled a 68 and was tied with Thai Varanyu Rattanaphiilboonkij, who shot a 69, at 138.
Jonel Ababa was the only other Filipino in the top 10 at 141 after a 71, in the company of Nicholas Coxon, who shot a 73, Elki Kow of Indonesia and Tim Stewart, who turned in 69s and Peter Stojanivski of Macedonia, who returned a 72.
First round leader Young Lee-song of South Korea ballooned to a 76 and is now six shots adrift.
Marabe rued one critical decision that denied him a two-shot lead, when he opted for a shorter club on his 150-yard approach to the 18th for that bogey.
“I took a wedge as the wind blew sideways. I hit the green but the ball bounced back and left me with 25 yards,” said Marabe in Filipino.
Aussie David Gleeson carded a 71 to share sixth place with American Josh Salah, who had a 69, for 140.