ICTSI Riviera: Van Der Valk grabs pace after a 68

Guido Van Der Valk. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Scores soared for the second straight round in the P2 million ICTSI Riviera Challenge of the Philippine Golf Tour, with Guido Van Der Valk and amateur Josh Jorge making it out of a brutal test with the fewest scars as the leaderboard was shaken up again.

With three of his five birdies coming in the back nine, Van Der Valk signed for a three-under-par 68 for a one-stroke lead over first round leader Fidel Concepcion, who hobbled with a 74, even as Jorge aced the 182-yard fourth hole with a pitching wedge on the way to a 69 to be two behind.

Van Der Valk, the longtime Philippine resident, picked up shots on the 15th and 16th to seal a level 142 aggregate, with Jorge returning the third subpar card at a Langer layout that continued to punish the big guns.

Amateur Rianne Malixi scrambled to shoot a 73 as the P750,000 ladies championship also toasted its new leader.

Malixi will take a 146 tally into the final round on Thursday, a three-shot lead over Harmie Constantino and first round leader Mafy Singson, who shot 73 and 77, respectively.

“This was a good day, because this course has been so difficult for me,” Van Der Valk said.

Juvic Pagunsan rallied with three birdies in an eight-hole stretch from No. 8 to rescue a 71 and stay within four shots along with Antonio Lascuña, who fired a 74.