Foo, Carlos share PH Open lead

GREGORY FOO and Jobim Carlos made what was a wide-open field into a two-man battle as they fired in identical scores of 69 to leave behind erstwhile leader Clyde Mondilla and the rest of the pack halfway through the Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship yesterday at the Cangolf’s north course in Laguna.

Foo failed to sustain a flawless three-under card at the back from where he teed off as the Singapore ace scrambled for a 36, enabling Carlos to catch up with a closing 35. The duo remained on top at five-under 139 after opening 70s.

Mondilla also turned in a two-under card in the opener of the 72-hole championship but the former national champion, after a steady 36, reeled back with a 38 at the back, marred by a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 14th, for a 74 that dropped him five strokes off the pace at 144.

Jerome Ng fired a 71 after a 73 but could only tie Mondilla at third while Miko Alejandro matched par 72 for a 145 for a share of fifth with Choi Jae Seung, who had a 73.

Sarah Ababa, meanwhile, shot a gutsy 72 as she surged past first-round leader and ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio, who fumbled with a 76, in the ladies side of the tournament. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio