ILOILO–Thai Kammalas Namuangruk fired a two-under-par 68 on Thursday to wrest a one-stroke lead over a formidable quartet halfway through the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge here.
Namuangruk gunned down four birdies against two bogeys over the old Sta. Barbara layout for a 36-hole, 134 aggregate and led Michael Bibat and Rene Menor, who shot a 70 and 66, respectively, and Spain’s Marcos Pastor and Australia’s Tim Stewart by one.
Juvic Pagunsan, shooting for a third straight title, was just three shots off after a 68 even as first round leader Makoto Iwasaki of Japan crashed and burned with a 76 to be six shots behind.
A total of 40 players made the final two rounds after the cut was pegged at 143.
“I hit it well and my putting was relatively good although the greens are difficult,” the 27-year-old Namuangruk said.
Bibat shared the lead at one stretch with an eagle 3 on No. 4, only to fumble with three bogeys the rest of the way.
Pastor also submitted a 66 while Stewart shot a 68 built around five birdies.
He opened with a 67 on Wednesday.