MANILA, Philippines – Angelo Que rallied early on at the back to save a scrambling frontside finish, shooting a three-under 67 and barging into the weekend play of the Hong Kong Open now paced by PGA Tour campaigner Justine Rose at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling yesterday.
Facing the specter of missing the cut after a so-so 72 Thursday, Que birdied three of the first seven holes from No. 11 then settled for a two-birdie, two-bogey stint in the last nine holes to jump to a share of 48th at 139 after starting out the second round below the cut-off line.
The Filipino ace, however, still stood eight shots behind Rose, who fired a 66 on a five-birdie against one bogey show for a 131 and a one-shot lead over Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who also shot a 66 for a 132.
Ian Poulter, another PGA Tour mainstay, also turned in a 66 to tie erstwhile joint leader Lu Wei-chih of Taiwan, who slowed down with a 69, at 133, while England’s Matt Ford shot the day’s best of five-under 65 to move to joint fifth with Anirban Lahiri of India (67) Korean Y.E. Yang (66), Matthew Fitzpatrick of England (67) and Aussie Nathan Holman (66) at 134.
But while Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, advanced, compatriots Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuña missed the cut with 145 and 148, respectively, after a pair of 72s.
Over in Japan, Juvic Pagunsan carded a second straight one-over 72 and missed the cut by one in Bridgestone Open paced by Yuki Inamori and Tomohiro Kondo, who had identical 134s after a 66 and 69, respectively, at Sodegaura Country Club in Chiba.