Jaraulas force three-way logjam

DAVAO ,Philippines  – Cousins Boboy Jaraula and Raymond Jaraula charged home with a brilliant four-under 32 to salvage a 72 and force a three-way tie for the lead with the Randy Garalde-Ryan Co and Ernie Rellon-Marcel Puyat pairs in the second round of the Davao National Pro-Am presented by Samsung at the Apo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

The Jaraulas looked headed for a poor stint after a 40 and two bogeys against a birdie at the back but rattled off five birdies in the last six holes, including a four-birdie string from No. 13 for that 72, putting them back into title contention with one round left in the P1 million event.

The Garalde-Co and Rellon-Puyat tandems also toughened up at the backside with a pair of 35s with the former matching the Jaraulas’ even par output and the latter birdying the last two holes for a 35 and a 73 for identical 145s.

Antonio Asistio II and partner Brent Sumampong carded a 74 and were a stroke adrift at 146 while Raul Miñoza and Bunny Abano hobbled with a 76 but remained in the hunt at 147 in a tie with the Eddie Bagtas-Aris Mata pair, which shot a 74.

But while the unfancied pros drew solid games from their amateur partners in the alternate-shot format event sponsored by Samsung and Emcor, the tour’s big guns continued to struggle with their teammates and stood way behind to contend for the top P172,000 purse.

First round leaders Elmer Salvador and Ludwig Ledesma, who shot a 70 in the first round, shot themselves in the foot this time, making eight bogeys and a double bogey against two birdies for an 80 as they tumbled to seventh at 150, five strokes behind.

Frankie Miñoza and Ting Castillo made a 74 but remained six shots behind at 151 in a tie with Jun Bernis and Toffee Tionko, who hobbled with a 79 in the event backed by Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction.

Jay Bayron and Alemar Etrone were at 155 after a 79 in a tie with Ferdie Aunzo and Monchit Macay, who had a 77, and four other teams, while Cassius Casas and Benjie Senning were at 156 after an 80, and Jhonnel Ababa and partner Benjie Leparto were at 158 after a 77.

Worse were the teams led by Tony Lascuña, Juvic Pagunsan, Mhark Fernando and Robert Pactolerin which all missed the 43-team cut at 160 with Marvin Dumandan and Anthony Sasin, who had a 79 and a 160, clinching the last berth by beating Bentoy Lascuña-Tebor Marcelino (79), Cesar Ababa-Art Ong (79) and Tony Lascuña-Jun Serado (83) in the countback.

Pagunsan, who swept the ICTSI Apo leg titles on the local circuit the last three years, including a four-shot romp over Salvador three weeks ago, failed to recover from an opening 82 with Rico Cajili as they made an 83 for a 165.

Fernando, who scored a breakthrough win at Del Monte last week, and partner Bong Cabang also made an 83 for a 166 while Pactolerin, the surprise winner at ICTSI-Negros Occidental last month, had a 79 with Boy Paduano for a 167 and bowed out in the event supported by Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Air Philippines Express, Footjoy and Titleist by Empire Golf, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int’l.