Ha, Jahns surge ahead; Kim pulls away

MANILA, Philippines — Korean Tae Won Ha and Keanu Jahns staged a dramatic late charge to fire 64 and 65, respectively, and seize joint leadership from a faltering Aidric Chan in the thrilling second round of the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge yesterday.

The players battled not just the demanding par-70 Bacolod Golf and Country Club layout but the punishing heat, which replaced days of rainfall. By day’s end, two unlikely leaders had emerged, both signing for eight-under 132s.

Ha, the unheralded 21-year-old from Incheon, Korea, went bogey-free, birdieing Nos. 4, 8 and 9 inside 15 feet, then sticking a 7-iron from 175 yards to three feet on the par-5 15th for an eagle.

He drained another long birdie putt on the next before parring his way in for a flawless six-under card.

Jahns, on the other hand, produced six birdies to offset three bogeys, spiking his 65 with an eagle on No. 15 following a solid drive and a brilliant 8-iron from 165 yards to 24 feet, which he drained with confidence.

Chan, who had led for most of the day after dispatching co-leader Michael Bibat early in their backside start, looked poised to retain the top spot until a disastrous double-bogey on the par-4 7th. Despite earlier birdies on Nos. 2, 4 and 6, the costly miscue dropped him to solo second at 133 after a 69.

Meanwhile, Seo Yun Kim took a giant step toward a long-awaited breakthrough on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, pulling away from the pack with a commanding six-stroke lead after 36 holes.