Monsalve-Uy takes charge in National Doubles

MANILA, Philippines — Ryan Monsalve came away with a brilliant two-under 66 in hot conditions to make up for Lanz Uy’s wobbly 75 as the duo combined for a 141 in aggregate format to snatch a one-stroke lead over Sean Ramos and Gabby Macalaguim after two rounds of the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club yesterday.

Monsalve, a junior at California Baptist University, negated a three-bogey miscue with five birdies, including one on the par-5 18th that spiked his 35-31 card at the par-68 military layout. It cushioned the impact of Uy’s 41-34 game for a 203 total heading to today’s deciding round where play shifts to two-ball foursomes (alternate shot).

After an impressive 61 in four-ball, the Macalaguim-Ramos pair struggled with 71 and 72, respectively, for a 143 but remained in the title hunt at 204. They remained upbeat of their chances in the crucial format which puts premium on cohesion and accuracy where a slightest mistake by one could lead to a challenging shot for the other.

Josh Jorge and Santino Laurel, together with the Jed Dy-Mikha Fortuna pair, made it a four-way fight for the National Golf Association of the Philippines’ closing event for 2019 as the two teams submitted identical 206s after a 138 and 141, respectively.

Jorge fired a one-under 67 while Laurel carded a 71.

Dy, who won this event with SEA Games gold medalist and LPGA Tour-bound Bianca Pagdanganan, struggled with a 71 but drew an impressive game from Fortuna, who shot a 70 that was marred by a double-bogey on the par-3 13th.