4 share Riviera provisional lead

SILANG, Cavite—The veteran Robert Pactolerin, the in-form Charles Hong and unknown Albin Engino shared the provisional lead with India’s Shubhankar Sharma Friday when second-round play was halted due to darkness in the $60,000 ICTSI Riviera Classic here.

Engino, the former caddy from Marapara in Bacolod, smoked his final nine holes with three birdies to return a second consecutive two-under-par 69 in a flight that finished at dusk to catch Pactolerin and Hong at 138.

Play was delayed for two hours because of lightning and was suspended with the Indian still to play his last three holes left. Sharma was working on a three-under card and was also at four-under overall.

Hong fired a bogey-less 67, while Pactolerin, the 1990 Philippine Open champion, also fired another 69 as first round co-leaders Nils Floren of Sweden and Englishman Grant Jackson struggled with 73s.

Floren and Jackson returned 68s in late flights on Wednesday and are now at 141, three strokes off the pace.

“The long delay sort of helped me going into my final nine holes,” Engino,  who birdied Nos. 2, 5 and 7 from close range, said.

Michael Bibat remained a stroke off the pace after shooting a 70, now tied with Miguel Tabuena and Elmer Salvador, who shot a 68 and 70, respectively. Also tied with them were Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who shot a 67, and England’s Peter Richardson, and Rey Pagunsan, who returned 70s.

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