Foreign pros show way as Pinoys falter

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines – Scott Barr capped his day-long brilliance with a four-under 68 and broke away from a tie with Englishman George Thacker to post a two-stroke lead over fellow Aussie Ryan Bulloch halfway through the $60,000 ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship at the Orchard’s Palmer Course here yesterday.

Weather improved a bit and Barr, along with those who got stranded in the rain-delayed first round Wednesday, returned early morning and birdied two of the last five holes at the back for a 66 which Thacker matched for a share of the lead.

But Barr, out to atone for his so-so 38th place finish in last week’s Aboitiz Invitational Presented by ICTSI in Cebu, sustained his charge in second round play, birdying three of the first eight holes then added two more birdies at the front against a lone bogey for a 68 and a 36-hole haul of 134.

That was two shots ahead of Bulloch, who also had a miserable showing in the first of two Asian Development Tour legs in the country at joint 50th but made two solid rounds of 69-67 to be in early contention at 136.

Thacker, who finished 53rd and last in Cebu, also stayed on course for redemption and in the hunt for the top $10,465 purse with a seven-under 137 after a 71.

Tony Lascuña, who kept the foreign bets in sight with a brilliant 32 at the back to complete his first round of 67, struggled in his second round stint, making a double-bogey on No. 13 and then dropping a stroke for the second straight day on the first hole.

But the current Order of Merit leader on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour rebounded with four birdies in the last eight holes to salvage a 71 although he dropped four shots off Barr at 138.

Some in the 109-player starting field still failed to finish their second round play although at 10-under overall, Barr is a cinch to clinch the 36-hole honors in the 72-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Japanese Mitsuhiko Hazishume and Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo, who shared the clubhouse lead at 68 in the first round, had similar one-over cards after nine holes to drop to three-under overall while Singapore ace Quincy Quek had a one-under card after six holes for four-under overall.

Elmer Salvador, who beat Lascuña by six in Cebu, settled for a pair of 71s for a 142 and stood eight strokes off Barr. Other two-under par scorers were Indonesian George Gandranata (71) and Peter Richardson (70), while Jhonnel Ababa and Korean Unho Park posted two-under cards overall after six holes.

Other backers of the event, also serving as the 11th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, are Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf.