Ababa-Echavez seizes two-shot lead with 72

DAVAO, Philippines—Edgar Ababa and Paul Echavez birdied the last hole to match par 72 yesterday and seize a two-stroke lead after the penultimate round of the Davao National Pro-Am golf tournament co-presented by Samsung and Emcor at the Apo Golf and Country Club here.   Ababa, a former winner on the local pro tour, and Echavez recovered from back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 11 and  12 with birdies on the 13th and 18th to wrest the solo lead at 145 going into tomorrow’s final 18 holes.   Albin Engino and national team standout Mark Fernando loomed as a strong title threat when they birdied the last three holes for a 75 to climb into a tie for second with first-round leaders Dante Torres and Alejandro Saban in the P1 million championship marking Samsung’s first foray into pro golf.   Torres and Saban had a chance to grab a share of the lead but bogeyed the easy par-5 final hole for a 76.   Three other teams still had an outside chance of winning the tournament also supported by Kawasaki, Tri-com, BCLN Golf, LVL Construction, Malayan Insurance, Allegoiance Cargo, Edcon, Mega Joy Trading, Aldwin Oriental Graphics, Canon, Tran World Brokerage Corp., Cargo Serve, MDR, Banbros, Goetz and MSI-ECS.   Elmer Saban and Gen Nagai conspired for a 74 while Buboy Jaraula and Clyde Mondilla carded a 76 to share fourth spot, just four strokes behind at 149.   Edwin Sanchez and Art Arbole were alone in sixth place at 150 after a 75 while Dan Cruz-Jessie Balasabas, Louie Dacudao-Bayani Garcia, Tonyt Fernando-Larry Pasquil and Richard Sinfuego-Bobby Inigo were in a four-way tie at 151.   Juvic Pagunsan and his partner Boy Tan meanwhile suffered the ignominy of being edged out for the last two spots after losing in the countback. They ended up tied for 28th.   The teams of Cassius Casas and Danny Zarate also did not make it to the final round.