New leaders in NGAP doubles tilt

JOBIM CARLOS and Raymundo Gonzales zoomed past first day leaders Gino Bunyi and Marvin Mendoza as they submitted a solid four-under 64 in the second round of the first NGAP National Doubles Amateur Championships at the AFP Golf Club yesterday.

Carlos and Gonzales frolicked in the best-ball format and finished with a bogey-free card that included birdies on the first and last holes, giving them a 138 aggregate and a one-stroke lead over the Bunyi-Mendoza and Lawrence Celestino-Joey Huerva pairs. Bunyi and Mendoza, who showed up the field with a 72 in the foursomes Monday, wavered coming home with two bogeys in the last three holes as they yielded the lead with a 67 for a 139.

The Celestino-Huerva tandem matched that output after an impressive, bogey-less 65 built around three birdies, setting up a three-way showdown for the crown in the event. The final round will be played under the combined aggregate format, making it an anybody’s race.

Lans Uy and Paolo Uy also surged ahead in Group II after matching par 68 for a 36-hole haul of 143, five shots ahead of erstwhile leaders Larry Patnongon and Joey Solis, who turned in a second straight 74 for a 148. Kevin Saclot and Kristoffer Arevalo rebounded with a 71 after an 83 but remained too far behind at 154, while Richard Tan and Lino Magpantay stood at 159 after a 75 in a tie with the Adrian Romero-Raymart Tolentino tandem, which had a 72.

Samantha Martirez and Chanelle Avaricio, on the other hand, kept their three-shot lead intact in the ladies division as they combined for a 75 for a 152. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio