Japanese up by 2 as Sinfuego falters

BAGUIO City — In a tournament fast shaping out to be a putting contest, a foreigner continued to stir up interest in the Camp John Hay Open as Japanese Tonokazu Yoshinaga fired a second straight 65 yesterday to cut erstwhile co-leader Richard Sinfuego down to size and post a two-stroke lead halfway through the P700,000 event here.

Redisplaying his near-flawless touch on the tricky greens of this mountain-top par-68 rolling course, Yoshinaga found himself towing a bewildered field of local bets with a 36-hole haul of 130 as he threatened to further create an impact after topping the local tour qualifier at Eastridge two weeks ago.

That was two strokes ahead of Ramon Brobio, whose second straight 66 sparked hopes of a great comeback by the former world junior champion, who had to undergo an intensive training, together with buddy Carito Villaroman, in the United States to get back in the groove.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo graced the event, sponsored by Fil-Estate Group of Companies, Southwoods Manor, College Assurance Plan and Camp John Hay Development Corp., by playing the full route in the pro-am with former President Fidel Ramos, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and AFP Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes.

Canadian Rick Gibson, another foreign bet but a well-known campaigner here, likewise fired a 66 for a 134, the same output put in by unheralded Noli Kempis, who also had a two-under par card on a day the greens became firmer and manageable than they were Saturday.

Still, many struggled, limped and remained puzzled by them with Sinfuego shooting himself in the foot with a four-over 72 to drop to 137 with Jorge Abad (67) and Roger Cabajar (70).

"Richard no lucky in putting," said Yoshinaga in halting English.

Unlike Sinfuego, whose round was marred by a couple