Bernis surges with splurge of birdies

CANLUBANG–Given a second chance to shine, Jun Bernis grabbed the moment and seized the halfway lead behind a three-birdie splurge from No. 14 that spiked his bogey-free round of 68 in the ninth DHL-NGAP Amateur Open Golf Championships at Cangolf’s north course here yesterday.

That string of birdies and three scrambling pars gave Bernis a 35-33 card fashioned out in a surprising quiet day at this coconut tree-lined layout when the winds proved manageable enough for the cream of the amateur crop and for a 17-year-old Korean out to spoil the local bets’ fun.

But while fancied first round leader Juvic Pagunsan struggled with a balky putter and reluctantly signed a 75 on his birdie-less scorecard, a game Bernis took the chance to finally steal the spotlight denied him Tuesday after shooting a 69.

With a 36-hole aggregate of 137, Bernis posted a two-shot lead over Kim Chang Hoi, who came unruffled by the winds in the first round with a 68 but could only shoot a 71 in the privacy of the windless morning flight yesterday.

Still, Kim, a freshman at the Holy Angels University in Angeles City who has made the country his second home the last seven years, remained in the second for the second straight day, his 139 further boosting his title bid after a forgettable stint here last year.

In the distaff side, Lina de Guzman, also a club bet, proved no gracious host as she shot a 75 to take a one-shot lead over ace jungolfer Jayvie Agojo and Lora Roberto, who both carded 76s.

Carmelette Villaroman, the former RP Ladies Open champion, stood two strokes adrift with 77 in a tie with Tracy Locsin while Lucy Landicho and Remjin Camping both had 81s. Geleen Handog struggled with an 85 but vowed to get back into the thick of things in the 54-hole tournament today.

Pagunsan, who lived up to his pre-tournament billing by taking the lead with a 67 in the first round, muffed a total of six makeable birdie putts, including four inside four feet in the last four holes as the 2000 champion shot himself in the foot with rounds of 37-38.

He slipped to third place, enabling Erwin Vinluan, shooting a second straight 71, to tie him at 142 while Marvin Dumandan turned in a 71 for a 143 for a share of fifth place with Jay Bayron, who like fellow club bet Pagunsan, struggled with a 74 after a 69.

Defending champion Abe Rosal, who matched par Tuesday, failed to get his game going and kissed his title-retention bid goodbye with a 76 and a 148, in a tie with veteran campaigner Tommy Manotoc, who shot another 74. Both Rosal and Manotoc opted to skip the last two days to attend to business matters.

Bernis, on the other hand, was all business yesterday.

The 31-year-old home bet used an impeccable short game by saving pars in three times that he went out of regulation and made the most of his birdie opportunities on Nos. 8, 14, 15 and 16.

"Ang plano ko talaga, pa-fairway-fairway lang tapos green. Pero nag-click ang putting kaya umiskor uli," said the soft-spoken Bernis, who is chasing not only the crown of this event sponsored by DHL Express and WWWExpress but also a first-ever stint in the national team.

But Bernis will be as much tested as Kim today when the unfancied bets fight it out in the final flight with Pagunsan and Vinluan.

"I was just lucky to shoot those rounds," said Kim, adding that he still needs to improve on his short game and putting stroke while downplaying his chances for the crown.

He actually grabbed the lead at the turn with a 34 with birdies on Nos. 2 and 9, but he somehow wilted under pressure at the back with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 14 although he cushioned the impact of his faltering finish with a lucky birdie on No. 13 when he rolled a curling 25-footer to save a 37 and a 71.