Chabon: Joint leader
Jolo Magcalayo sizzled with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to open a huge six-stroke lead over sibling Jonas even as Sofia Chabon, Junia Gabasa and Eagle Ace Superal took charge in the women’s side with 75s at the start of the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna on Tuesday.
Cashing in on his local knowledge of the course he calls home, Jolo, 17, drained four of his seven birdies in the front nine before sustaining his assault on the difficult North layout for a personal-best round of 32-33.
The elder Magcalayo, who was two flights behind, also turned in a solid frontside 33 but failed to match Jolo’s sustained run and stumbled with a 38, settling for a 71.
Aidric Chan and Zachary Castro returned par 72s for joint third in the 72-hole championship held in honor of the late National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) president Rod V. Feliciano.
A tight duel, however, is looming in the distaff side with Chabon, Gabasa and Superal all churning out identical 37-38 cards, just one stroke ahead of Rafaela Singson and Rianne Malixi.
Laia Barro stayed in early contention with a 77, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas and Samantha Dizon both shot identical 78s and Laurea Duque and Arnie Taguines carded similar 79s.
Jolo birdied the par-5 second hole to spark a run that included birdies on Nos. 5, 8 and 9, and after three pars at the back, he birdied the next two then capped his sterling round with another birdie on No. 16 to open up the big lead.