Kim widens Cangolf lead

Korean Kim In-jae stretched his centerpiece championship division lead in the Canlubang Amateur Open over Rupert Zaragosa to six after shooting a one-under-par 71 in soggy conditions yesterday at the club’s  tree-lined North layout in Laguna.

Kim drained four birdies against three bogeys for a 140 aggregate heading into today’s final round of the event that forms part of the National Golf Association of the Philippines-Globe Business circuit.

Zaragosa, the former men’s and boys’ national champion, struggled to match par for 146 and would need nothing less than a truly low round today to figure in contention for one of the most prestigious club titles in the country.

Jordan Mamaril and club bet Joey Huerva were actually tied with Zaragosa in the event also backed by Pancake House.

Mamaril carded a 76 marred by a triple bogey 6 on the 11th while Huerva rescued a 71.

Basti Lorenzo rebounded with a 72 to be in a tie with Riviera’s Park Gyu-ha, who skied to a 78, at 150 while Micah Shin fired a 73 but was way off the lead at 152 after an opening-day 79.

In the women’s side, Dottie Ardina pulled away from the pack with a 67 that boosted her to a five-shot lead over Princess Superal, who shot a 72.

Cyna Rodriguez, the former Philippine Ladies champion who is on a golf scholarship in the United States, fired a 73.

Jayvie Agojo closed out bogey-double bogey for a 76 that left her nine shots behind.

Kim Ji-young, another Korean, was the best-placed foreign player in the ladies event with a 75 even as Bianca Pagdanganan also shot a 76 to tie Agojo.