Abalos two shots behind in Euro championship

The Philippines’ Celine Abalos returned a level par 72 on Thursday to stay two shots behind Angela Wang in 10-under girls’ play of the US Kids Golf European Championship at Royal Musselbergh Golf Club in East Lothian in the United Kingdom.

Abalos, the lone Philippine representative, had two birdies and the same number of bogeys in a 37-35 card and will take a 146 aggregate into Friday’s final round.

The American Wang cracked par, shooting a 71 in Day 2 to grab the lead at 144 even as Latvia’s Katrina Bulkovska skied to an 80 after an opening 72 to drop out of the pace and be eight shots adrift.

Sofia essakali of the United States returned a second straight 75 to be another four strokes behind Wang with Thailand’s Jinjutha Maneerat firing a tournament-best 67 to blow into contention also at 150.

Abalos, a fifth grader at Povera, has her coach, Carmelette Villamoran, as her caddy.