Aidric Chan moved halfway through clinching a national team berth for this year’s Southeast Asian Games that the country will host as he topped the men’s team Stage I qualifier at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on Friday.
The reigning national junior champion, who took charge of the crack field with a 68 on Thursday, blew a 34 start with a floundering finish but his 72 still put him three strokes ahead of three others after the first of the two-phase elimination round that will select the three members of the Philippine team.
Counting his two 73s, Chan, who also won the National pro-am with Rey Pagunsan at Splendido last month, assembled a two-under 286 as he built some cushion over three bidders and nine others who survived the second cut heading to Stage 2 set June 10 to 13.