Aunzo sparkles with 67, leads by 2

MANILA, Philippines - Ferdie Aunzo kept the momentum of his solid first round stint as he shot a five-under par 67 to wrest a two-stroke lead over first round leader Richard Sinfuego in the second round of the ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Classic at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan yesterday.

Aunzo, the former national amateur champion chasing his first pro crown on his rookie year, gunned down six birdies from close range to negate a lone-bogey mishap on the par-3 seventh, completing a 34-33 round in another day of under-par scoring under winter rules.

Counting his earlier 68, Aunzo pooled a two-day aggregate of 135 and moved from joint third to the solo lead heading into the last 18 holes of the P1 million tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Sinfuego, near flawless with an opening 66, could only churn out a lone-birdie effort under overcast skies for a bogey-free 71 card as the current Order of Merit leader dropped to joint second with Benjie Magada at 137.

Magada, who placed second to Elmer Salvador in the ICTSI-Sherwood Hills Classic leg, birdied three of the last six holes to likewise fire a 68 and remain in the hunt for the top P200,000 purse.

But a host of others also stood just a stroke or two behind, ensuring a wide open battle in the final round. In pursuit are three of the previous leg winners, headed by Salvador, who sizzled with five birdies after seven holes before settling for a 68 and a 138.

Jerome Delariarte turned in a bogey-free 68 to join Salvador in fourth along with Korean Kim Chang Hoi, who settled for a 71 after a 67 and Eric Gozo, who came through with a 70.

Danny Zarate, winner of the kickoff ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat leg, shot a 69 to tie Cassius Casas in sixth at 139.