Korean teener fires 65, up by 1

MANILA, Philippines - Korean teener Wang Jeung Hyun, trying to complete what he had failed to do at Cangolf early this year, fired a stirring seven-under par 65 to grab a one-stroke lead over erstwhile leader Jobim Carlos in the second round of the Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championship at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna yesterday.

Wang, who was disqualified after refusing to sign his scorecard following an illegal drop on a disputed hole in the final round of the WWWExpress-DHL National Golf Championships which he led last February, made his charge at the back with a fiery 31 for that 65 and a 36-hole aggregate of 136.

That was one shot clear of Carlos, who added a solid 69 to an earlier 68 for a 137 as the duo braced for a shootout in the final round today of the 54-hole championship hosted by Cangolf and sponsored by The Turf Company and Pacsports Phils.

The next four players – Jessie Balasabas (71), Sonny Villaber (71), Zanieboy Gialon (72) and Art Arbole (73) – stood seven strokes off Wang at 143, virtually reducing the battle for this year’s crown into a two-player affair.

Alexes Nallos pooled a 145 after a 72 while ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Dante Becierra and Nam Seung Hee had identical 146s after a 70 and 72, respectively.

The fancied ICTSI-Cangolf bets also failed to mount their charge with Mhark Fernando matching par 72 for a 147 in a tie with Sung Hwan Yoon (74) and defending champion Jhonnel Ababa limping with a second straight 76 for a 152 for a share of 20th place with reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, who skied to an 82 after a 70.

In the distaff side, Lovelynn Guioguio turned in a sizzling eight-under 64, highlighted by an eagle-3 on No. 18, to post a five-stroke lead over ICTSI teammates Jayvie Agojo and Sarah Ababa, who both had 69s.

Andrea Unson carded a 70 for fourth while Lucy Landicho and Geleen Handog stood a shot farther at 71. Daniella Uy matched par 72 while Regina de Guzman carded a 73.

Guioguio frolicked from the red tee and fired four birdies at the front. She stumbled with a bogey on No. 10 but knocked down another birdie on No. 12 then added another pair on Nos. 14 and 16.

The top ICTSI bet then capped her sterling round with an eagle on the 18th, hitting a 4-iron shot from 180 yards to within three feet.

The 15-year-old Wang, three behind Carlos at the start of the day, actually made a bogey start but birdied three of the next eight holes to bounce back into contention with a 34. He matched Carlos’ birdie-birdie start at the back and added another one on No. 12 for five straight birdies to move within one.

The 11th staging of the Cangolf Am is backed by ICTSI, Dynamic Sports, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., GolfWorx, Jose Ma. Hechanova, Rudy Project, Greenlink Trading, Otsuka (Phils) Pharmaceutical, Inc., MayCar Foods, Inc., Merlo Agricultural Corp., Mesaland Dev’t. Corp., Nature’s Spring, Pilipinas Golfbag Mfg., San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Seamecor, Inc., and Whealth, Inc.