Zaragosa bounces back in Asian Am

MANILA, Philippines - Rupert Zaragosa moved into contention with a three-under card with three holes to go as play was suspended due to darkness in the second round of the Asian Amateur Championship paced by Australian Ben Campbell at the Singapore Island Golf and Country Club in Singapore yesterday.

Short in size but long in talent, Zaragosa hit three birdies and scrambled for pars twice to preserve a bogey-less round after 15 holes as he sparkled in a field teeming with tall players. He opened his bid in the 72-hole championship with a 70.

Art Arbole closed out with back-to-back birdies to salvage an even par 72 but fell behind by seven shots to Campbell, who followed up his 67 with a solid 66 for a 133 as he opened a three-shot lead over Malaysian Kenneth de Silva halfway through the 72-hole championship which offers a berth in next year’s US Masters to the champion.

Arbole, who birdied the final hole to complete his weather-halted first round early Friday with a 68, stumbled with a double-bogey on the par-3 No. 4 and dropped shots on two par-5 holes against four birdies to remain in joint sixth at 140.

De Silva had a three-under card with five holes to play at the front when play was halted due to darkness.

Rupert Zaragosa, who had a decent 70 in the opener, had a bogey-less three-under card after 13 holes while Miguel Yee, who shot a 71 Thursday, had a one-over round after 12 holes.

Clyde Mondilla, who made a 73 in the first round, had a two-over card after 12 holes and in danger of missing the cut in the tournament which drew 118 of the region’s leading players in the ranks.

Missing the weekend play were Zanie Boy Gialon, who blew a steady 72 with an 81 for a 153 and John Abdon, who had a 155 after a 76.