Lam, Concepcion seize lead; Avaricio pulls away

MANILA, Philippines —  James Ryan Lam and Fidel Concepcion carved out a pair of 70s to seize the joint lead midway through the P3.5 million ICTSI Apo Golf Classic in Davao yesterday.

Against the fabled Apo Golf and Country Club layout, Lam and Concepcion matched outputs for the second straight day in separate flights by tallying identical 141s over 36 holes – marking a rare return to the top of the Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard for both.

Lam fired three birdies against a lone bogey for a 36-34 card.

Veteran Elmer Salvador matched the leaders’ two-under card after opening with a 72. He finished at 142, just a shot off the lead, and now stands alone in third.

In women’s play, Chanelle Avaricio roared into a huge lead with a four-under-par 68, punctuated by an eagle-2 on hole No. 1.

“My short game really carried me today – especially the putting,” said Avaricio, whose four-under 140 total kept her safely ahead of Princess Superal, who pooled a 148 after a 73.