Fernando, Bayron 5 shots off the pace

SINGAPORE – Anthony Fernando rallied with back-to-back birdies from No. 15 to save a round of 71 under overcast skies but dropped five strokes off the lead halfway through the Singapore Open Amateur Championship here yesterday.

Staring at an over par round after dropping shots on two of the first four holes at the backside of the par-71 Singapore Island Country Club’s Bukit Course, Fernando came back with superb approach shots and made the birdie putts for that even par card.

Counting his first round output of one-under 70, the reigning national champion pooled a 141, the same output of compatriot Rufino Bayron, to fall behind by five to Australian ace Tim Stewart, who sizzled coming home with a flawless 32 on his way to a four-under 67 and a 36-hole aggregate of 136.

That was four shots up on New Zealand’s Nick Gillespie, who had a 71 for a 140 while Fernando shared third place with Bayron, who fired a one-under 70, after a 71 earlier and Taiwanese Chiang Chen-Chih, who matched par 71.

Jhonnel Ababa, who also carded a 70 in the first day, fumbled with a one-over 72 and dropped to 142 in a tie with Thai ace and Nomura Cup third placer Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who matched par for the second straight day.

Ferdie Aunzo actually turned in the day’s best score for the Filipino bets, whose stint here is sponsored by ICTSI, as he likewise birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to fire a two-under 69 and rebound from an opening 74.

“I was looking at 3-under card but I made a poor pitch on the 18th,” said the 27-year-old Aunzo, the low amateur in last week’s ASEAN Tour second leg at Malarayat, who flubbed an eight-foot uphill birdie putt on the final hole.

Still, Aunzo wheeled back into contention with a 143 although he stood seven shots off Stewart heading into the final 36 holes of the tournament, which stakes a stint in the Barclays Singapore Open to the winner.

Other 143 scorers were South African Christopher Joseph, who had a 74, Manav Das of India, who made a 71 and Christian Philippsen of Germany, who shot a 70.

While Fernando and Aunzo rallied to stay in contention, Michael Bibat, winner of the event in 2004, blew his chance with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, losing a two-under card and settling for an even par 71 and a 144.

He joined the group of Miko Alejandro, who holed out with a three-putt bogey for a second straight 72, Mark Fernando, who made a 71, and Singapore’s Jonathan Woo, who carded a 73. Mario Labajo struggled with a 73 but still made the 70-player cut with a 147.