Salvador wrests 2-shot lead; Frankie in

DAVAO — The first man in stayed at the top of the standings for the rest of the day as the early-starting Elmer Salvador assembled a second straight three-under-par 69 in a hurry to remain in front by two strokes after the second round of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit seventh leg here.

Playing in a twosome that was sent off first in the back nine under an early morning drizzle, Salvador got his swing in the groove quickly with a two-putt birdie on his third hole and encountered little trouble in duplicating his front-running score in Tuesday’s opening at the well-kept Rancho Palos Verdes course.

As soon as Salvador checked in with the best 36-hole score of 138, he did what most of the pros have been doing: ask around how local idol Frankie Miñoza, here making his debut in the revived tour, was faring.

With a big gallery following him, Miñoza safely made the cut with a 73-150, 12 behind but definitely not to be counted out. It was a wild round for the superstar who had five birdies and lost a lot of strokes on the sleek greens.

Miñoza was in 23rd spot of the 40 names who qualified for the money rounds of this event organized for the sponsoring First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s foundation and San Miguel Beer by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc.

Paul Miñoza, Frankie’s amateur brother who shared the upperhand with Salvador on opening day, drifted away with his 74 bringing him to a tie for fifth.

Mars Pucay birdied four of the first five holes, moving up to solo second at 140 with a 67. The veteran World Cupper is shaping up to be the main obstacle to former national amateur champion Salvador’s dream of a first victory in six years as a pro.

A big show of hometown aces as Salvador’s more popular neighbor, Cassius Casas, was just four shots behind after a 69 and was joined at 142 by senior player Mario Siodina, who scored a 70.

Another lesser light among the Davao army of pros stole a piece of the limelight as Ramil Bisera sizzled with a tournament-best 66 for a 145 and jumped into a share of 10th from near the bottom of the standings. Bisera had a woeful start of 79.

Bisera, a member of a big golfing clan based here, gunned down seven birdies in a span of nine holes from the fourth and fell a stroke short of the unofficial course record of Slavador. Elmer’s 65, however, was shot from the shorter blue tees and it is likely that Bisera’s score will be recognized.

A major trouble hit Order of Merit leader Benjie Magada’s bid for a third leg triumph, falling nine shots back at 147 like Tony Lascuna, another Davaoeno who can’t seem to find his rhythm. Both of them scored 75s.

Salvador said that nothing would beat the scenario of finally nailing a victory before his family and friends.

"Nagkaroon na tayo ng dalawang chance, baka ito ibigay na ng Diyos sa atin. Mahaba pa iyan, problema na magagaling ang kalaban," said Salvador, one of three brothers in the circuit. He bogeyed the 18th for the second straight day but that lone mistake was nullified by four easy birdies, three of them in his homeward trip.

The last time he hit the headlines, Salvador led the Cebu leg’s opening round only to falter in the last two rounds. It was in the Bacolod leg where he registered his best so far of third place.