On target on a demanding day, LJ Go fired a tournament-low six-under-par 66 to steal the thunder from the big, illustrious guns and take a two-shot lead over Angelo Que after 36 holes of the P2-million ICTSI Eagle Ridge at Aoki Challenge, where Chihiro Ikeda built a huge six-shot lead in the accompanying ladies play.
“I’ve been working on my (mid) irons for quite some time, so coming into this event, I was kind of confident,” said Go, the former national champion who played collegiate golf at Seton Hall in the United States and is now trying to make a mark here professionally as he takes a 135 aggregate into the third round.
Que, who started the day tied for the lead, salvaged a 70 for 137, with Antonio Lascuña shooting a 71 to fall into a tie with Dutchman Guido van der Valk, who fired a 68, at 139.
“Putting saved me,” said Que, who had an uncharacteristic wet bogey on the par-5 sixth. “Still, I think two-under was a good score.”
Zannie Boy Gialon and Jonel Ababa, who opened with 67s to tie Que, struggled with a 73 and 74, respectively, and would need to rebound in the third round on Thursday to keep the leaders in sight.
Juvic Pagunsan had three birdies against the same number of bogeys in a level card and will be looking to overhaul an eight-stroke deficit in the final two days.
Ikeda drained four of her seven birdies coming home for a 36-32 effort and 139 in the 54-hole championship as Harmie Constantino and amateur Mikaella Fortuna try to give final round chase on Thursday.