Jolo pads lead to 7; Chabon wobbles

CANLUBANG, Philippines — Jolo Magcalayo missed sustaining a hot run with bogeys on his homeward frontside stint but hit a late birdie to pull away by seven while Sofia Chabon bogeyed the last two holes to drop to joint lead with Junia Gabasa halfway through the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship  yesterday.

Impressive with a bogey-free 65 in the first round, Magcalayo kept his assault on the Cangolf’s North course with two birdies at the back where he teed off but stumbled with his first two bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3 before birdying the seventh to save a 37-34 for a 36-hole total of eight-under 136.

That was seven shots ahead of elder brother Jonas, who fell by nine at the turn but struck back with a closing 35 start for a 72 and a 143.

Sean Ramos bounced back from a woeful 75 with the day’s best 69 as he moved to solo third at 144, eight strokes off Jolo, while Paqo Barro carded a 70 for a 145 and Carl Corpus turned in a 71 for joint fifth at 146 with Elee Bisera (72).

Rupert Zaragosa hardly recovered from a 76 with a 73 for a 149, 13 strokes off the leader heading to the last 36 holes of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Tied with Gabasa and Eagle Ace Superal after 18 holes, Chabon broke from a three-way tie with a birdie on the ninth and went two-up with another birdie on No. 16 but bogeyed the last two holes for a 72, enabling the Cebu-based Gabasa, who also matched par, to regain a share of the lead at 147.