Fernando stays 3 shots off

MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando failed to sustain a hot start with a double-bogey mishap on the 16th as he settled for a one-under par 71 and stayed three strokes off the pace halfway through the Asian Amateur Championship at the Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup course in China late Friday.

The reigning Philippine amateur champion birdied three of the first six holes at the back but reeled back with a double-bogey on the par-5 16th then closed out his second round campaign with two more birdies against two bogeys for a 36-35 round.

Counting his superb 67 in the first round, the top Calatagan bet pooled a 36-hole total of 138 for solo fourth, three shots behind new joint leaders Jordan Sherratt of Australia and Korean Han Chang Won heading into the last 36 holes of the inaugural championship which offers an invitation to the 2010 US Masters to the champion. The winner and the runner(s)-up will also gain berths in the International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship slated at St Andrews, also next year.

Sherratt fired a five-under 67 while Han shot a 69 as the duo shared the lead at 135, two ahead of New Zealand’s Peter Spearman-Burn, who returned a 68.

Antonio Asistio II, who had a 69 in the first round he spiked with two eagles, opened with back-to-back birdies at the back but the spearhead of the ICTSI golf team fell back with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3, needing to sink a six-foot birdie putt on the ninth to salvage a 37-34 round.

Still, the long-hitting Asistio, remained within striking distance at 140 for a share of fifth with India’s Rashid Khan, who had a 69, and Korean Song Tae-hoon, who also turned in a 69.

A total of 60 players qualified for weekend play, with the cut coming at five-over 149. That included Jhonnel Ababa, who shot a two-under 70 for a 143 and US-based Filipino Judson Eustaquio, who had a 76 for a 144.

Eustaquio, impressive with an opening 68, faltered in the second day in a round marred by a seven-over par 11 on the par-4 17th. He, however, flashed resiliency as he birdied three holes at the front for a 33-43 card.

Dante Becierra, the former Hong Kong Amateur Open champion, shot a 74 and likewise advanced with a 147 but Peter Villaber, the other ICTSI-backed bet, skied to an 82 after a 73 and missed the cut.

Han, who started the round one shot off the lead, kept himself right in the hunt for the tournament’s top honors with a solid round that included four birdies against a lone bogey. 

Sherratt, who won the prestigious Riversdale Cup earlier this year in Australia when he opened with a course-record 63, stumbled with a bogey on No. 1 but came through with six birdies the rest of the way to move on top.

Overnight leader Han Ren of China, who sizzled with a 64 in the first round, endured a tough day and limped home with a 78 for a 142.