LUBAO, Pampanga — Angelo Que battled fierce winds that swept through the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship at the Pinatubo course here on Tuesday, grinding out a 71 to preserve his three-stroke lead over Carl Corpus and Keanu Jahns midway through the P2.5 million tournament.
Despite a scorching start at the back nine, Que faced stiff mid-morning gusts, battling through back-to-back bogeys at No. 1 to save a 39-32 and hold onto the lead with a five-under 139 aggregate.
The three-time Asian Tour winner extended his overnight lead to five or six early in the round, riding on a three-birdie spree on Nos. 10, 16 and 17.
But the chase is far from a two-player duel. Seoyun Kim stormed into contention with the day’s best 70, moving just one stroke off the pace at 143, while Samantha Bruce briefly grabbed the lead with a dazzling four-under card through 11 holes.
He bogeyed Nos. 1 and 2 but regained his composure with a steady run of pars to stay at the helm of the kickoff leg of the 10-stage circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“It was really windy, much stronger than the first round, and the pin positions were a lot tougher,” said Que, winner of the Philippine Masters last year.
“Unfortunately, I stumbled with bogeys on the first two holes of the front nine. We had a long wait, but that’s no excuse – I just mishit a chip on the first hole and missed a short putt on the next. But under-par is still a good score,” he added.
The blustery conditions enabled challengers to close the gap, though Corpus and Jahns managed only matching one-under 71s for the second consecutive day, settling at 142 for a share of second place.
Corpus, who placed runner-up in last week’s Philippine Golf Tour Q-School, handled the swirling winds well, recovering from an early bogey and double bogey with three birdies and an eagle before a late stumble.
Jahns also stayed in contention, grinding out a four-birdie, three-bogey round to remain on track for another victory after dominating the Forest Hills leg last year.
Aidric Chan also turned in a 71 to force a tie at fourth at 146 with former Q-School topnotcher Toru Nakajima (74) and this year’s low medalist Jaehyun Jung (75) with Guido van der Valk (73) closely behind at 147.
Clyde Mondilla rebounded from a 78 with a 71, spiked by two birdies in the last three holes at the front as they caught up with Nelson Huerva, who carded a 74, Michael Bibat, who shot a 75, Josh Jorge, who fumbled with a 77, at eighth with 149s, while Mars Pucay (73), Jay Bayron (75) and Rico Depilo (77) all pooled 150s. PR
