Murakami keeps 3-shot lead

CANLUBANG, Philippines – Artemio Murakami turned a little bit cold on the greens after a sizzling, record-setting 64 Wednesday, settling for an even par 72 yesterday and moving closer to snapping a long title drought with a three-stroke lead over Japanese Tomokazu Yoshinaga in the BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational Presented by ICTSI at Cangolf’s south course here yesterday.

Unlike in the first round where he tamed the backside with a rare 29, spiked by seven straight birdies from No. 11 in a late flight, Murakami bogeyed two of the first three holes despite teeing off early, finishing with three birdies against one more bogey on No. 14 to salvage 35-37 card.

But that proved enough to keep him on top of the P1 million event sponsored by Banco De Oro with an eight-under 136 total and 18 holes away from recording his first victory since winning the all-Filipino Philippine Open at Valley last December.

“I struggled with my putting,” said Murakami, who three-putted No. 10, failed to return a pair of seven footers for par on Nos. 12 and 14 and flubbed at least four makeable birdie putts in sweltering heat.

With erstwhile pursuer Anthony Fernando fumbling with a closing 40 at the front for a 75, the unfancied Yoshinaga took over the challenger’s role by firing a five-under 67, boosted by a brilliant, bogey-free 31 at the front.

Yoshinaga, who earned a local tour card by making it to the top 10 in this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour qualifying, birdied Nos. 2. 5, 6, 8 and 9 in close range, bogeyed the tough No. 10 but birdied the next to preserve a five-under card for a 36-hole aggregate of 139 and a spot in the championship flight with the Fil-Japanese shotmaker and unheralded Terence Macatangay.

Macatangay eagled the par-5 11th and hit four birdies against four bogeys for a 70 as he took solo third at 141 for a rare crack at glory worth P200,000.

Fernando, who opened with a 67, stayed in the hunt with a 35 at the back but faltered with two three-putt bogeys on Nos. 2 and 6 and failed to rescue a pair of pars from the bunkers on Nos. 4 and 7 for a 40 and a 75. He tumbled to joint fourth at 142, six strokes behind.

Jerson Balasabas hobbled with a 74 to join Fernando in fourth with Richard Sinfuego (73), Richard Abaring (71) and Arnold Villacencio, who also eagled No. 11 but failed to preserve a bogey-free round with a bogey on No. 7 on his way home. He shot a 68.

Jhonnel Ababa rebounded from an awful 77 with a 69 but still stood too far behind Murakami at 147 while Mhark Fernando improved with a 69 after a 74 for a 143 in a tie with Ferdie Aunzo, who had a 71.

The tournament, the penultimate leg of the 16-stage circuit, is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.