Keanu Jahns rebounded from a disappointing first round by shooting a 2-under-par 70 yesterday to zoom to the WWWExpress-DHL Amateur Open lead at Canlubang’s tree-lined North layout in Laguna.
Jahns, who shot a 75 on Tuesday, drained three birdies against a bogey on the par-5 17th to move ahead by one over Justin Quiban, Jik-Jik Abdon and Japanese Gen Nagai with a two-day total of 145 in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.
Quiban shot the day’s best round with a 69 while Abdon and Nagai carded 74s.
The 17-year-old Jahns’ performance recalled his heroics for Alabang in the recent Philippine Airlines Interclub in Cebu, where the Fil-German went seven under with a two-round 137 score.
First round leader LJ Go, one of the heroes for Cebu CC in the Interclub, floundered with a 78 and fell three shots behind heading into the final two rounds of the 72-hole event backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot and Pacsports.
Rupert Zaragosa made his move, shooting a 73 to climb within five in a tie with Park Min-ung, the Korean expatriate who opened up with a 71 on Tuesday then ballooned to a 79.
Multi-titled Dottie Ardina buckled down to work with a 71 and a one-stroke lead over Pauleen Del Rosario and Chanelle Avaricio at the start of the 54-hole women’s play of the event which is part of the PLDT Group Amateur Golf Tour.