Salvador up by 3 strokes
DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE—Elmer Salvador put himself in a position to win again since that infamous disqualification in Mindanao last year, firing an eagle-aided 7-under-par 65 for a three-shot lead over Tony Lascuña in the ICTSI-Orchard championship.
The soft-spoken former Philippine Open champion eagled the par-4 13th with a 77-yard wedge shot before gunning down birdies in the next three holes for a 134 aggregate at the Orchard Palmer layout here.
“It’s been a long time since my last win,” said Salvador, who triumphed in an all-Filipino Open at the Malarayat in 2009, in Filipino. “I hope this tournament would be it.”
Salvador was stripped of a victory at Del Monte last year when his threesome in the final group was disqualified because of a marking infraction on the 18th green. He has not come close to a victory since that day.
Lascuña assembled a 67 for 137 even as Juvic Pagunsan lurked four shots behind after shooting a second straight 69 for 138.
Pagunsan, the sweet-swinging Asian Tour regular, was one shot ahead of darkhorse Richard Sinfuego, even as a four-man group that included the eminent Frankie Miñoza lay another stroke back at 140.
Piece of the first-round lead
Miñoza, who held a piece of the lead after the first round, matched par and was joined in the group by young pros Tonlits Asistio and Anthony Fernando, who both carded 69s, and amateur Zannie Boy Gialon, who shot a 70.
Sinfuego and Angelo Que actually matched Pagunsan’s 69, but Que’s opening 73 gave him no recourse but to work extra hard on the final day of the event organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
“I have been playing well and it so happened that I was able to sustain my game today,” said Pagunsan, who turned 33 the day before the recent Philippine Open won by Berry Henson of the United States.
Former Asian Games bronze medallist Michael Bibat carved out a 70 and was tied with Que along with Joenard Rates and former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales, who fashioned out a 71 and 72, respectively.
Jay Bayron, second placer by a stroke to Henson at Wack Wack’s East course, matched par and was at 143 along with the veteran Al Cruz, who actually held a share of the lead on Wednesday after a 68 but ballooned to a second-round 75.
The leading 36-hole scores:
134—E. Salvador 69-65; 137—A. Lascuna 70-67; 138—J. Pagunsan 69-69; 139—R. Sinfuego 70-69; 140—A. Fernando 71-69, A. Asistio 71-69, Z. Gialon (Am) 70-70, F. Minoza 68-72; 141—G. Bondoc 71-70, O. Sumcad 70-71; 142—A. Que 73-69, A. Murakami 72-70, M. Bibat 72-70, J. Rates 71-71, G. Rosales 70-72, J. Ababa 68-74; 143—M. Tabuena 72-71, J. Bayron 71-72, A. Cruz 68-75; 144—B. Magada 75-69, R. Bayron 73-71, C. La’O 72-72, C. Casas 72-72, M. Docking (Aus) 71-73, A. Engino 69-75, F. Aunzo 68-76; 145—R. Bain (Aus) 75-70, U. Park 73-72; 146—C. Delos Santos 74-72, R. Garalde 74-72, A. Arbole (Am) 72-74; 147—J. Labajo 76-71, Ron Pactolerin 73-74, P. Villaber 73-74, J. Bernis 73-74, KC Byung (Am, Kor) 72-75, R. Marabe 72-75, E. Quiachon 72-75, C. Hong 72-75.
