Korean Woo takes lead in DHL Amateur golf

KOREAN Shin Jin Woo displayed awesome putting skills yesterday capped by consecutive birdies to finish with a two-under 70 for a three-stroke lead over Jonar Austria and first-day leader Sung Hwan Yoon, who struggled with an 80, at the halfway point of the WWWExpress-DHL Amateur Golf Championships at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna yesterday.

Shin started the day seven strokes behind but steadily made his way back with a birdie on the par-5 14th and pars on the next two holes before finishing his day with the two birdies. With a 147 aggregate, Shin stood three ahead of Austria, who had a 150 after a 74, heading to the last 36 holes.

Austria put himself in contention with a pair of 37s that featured three birdies against three bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 3, hoping to hold his own against the two Koreans in today’s crucial third round. Sung, who led in the first day with an eagle-spiked 70, also had a six-over total, failing to recover from a disastrous triple-bogey 7 on No. 3 while closing out with a double-bogey 6 for that 80.

Cebuano golfer Gio Gandionco of the Cebu Country Club, fell back in the standings after a 76 following his first day score of 78. “I was two better than yesterday but not good enough.. Tough to play with a swing I don’t fully trust,” commented Gandionco when asked about his performance.

In girls’ play, Sunshine Baraquiel holed out with a bogey on No. 18 for a 74 as she dropped into a tie with fancied ICTSI teammates Dottie Ardina and Jayvie Agojo at the start of the 54-hole tournament. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio