Quiban, delos Santos advance in New Zealand Open

MANILA, Philippines -- Justin Quiban followed up a two-under 69 round with a 68, while Justin delos Santos also shot a three-under card as the Filipino bets advanced to the weekend play of the New Zealand Open at the Millbrook Golf Resort’s dual courses in Arrowtown, Millbrook Friday.

But they stood too far behind Aussie Scott Hend, who pulled ahead with a 66 after sharing the first-round lead with compatriot Matthew Griffin at 64, coming away with six birdies against a bogey at the Coronet layout for a 36-hole 130 aggregate in the NZ$2 million championship.

He paces Marcus Fraser and four others, who matched 132s, by two, while five players posted identical 133s heading to the final two rounds of the third leg of this year's Asian Tour.

Fraser also fired a 66 at Remarkables course to tie Daniel Hillier and Josh Geary, who shot a pair of 65s, Sam Brazel, who turned in a 67, and Griffin, who slowed down with a 68.

Despite an opening 69, Quiban faced uncertainty with a slew of competitors posting three-under cards or better while delos Santos also stayed on the brink with a 70.

But Quiban, who tied for second after three rounds but fumbled in the final day and wound up 21st in last week’s International Series Oman, dominated Coronet with four birdies against a bogey at the front but settled for a one-birdie, one-bogey card at the back to gain a share of 44th place at 137 with 13 others.

Delos Santos, on the other hand, gunned down four birdies at the backside of Remarkables against a two-bogey, one-birdie round at the front to make the cut at 138.