Arcillas surges to one-shot edge

Elmer Arcillas of Club Intramuros came up with a 70 to post a one-shot lead over Apo’s Jay Bayron halfway through the 72-hole, P1.5-million 13th Uratex National Caddie Championship at the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The 23-year-old Arcillas, playing his third Uratex event in four years, pieced together nines of 35s with birdies on the sixth and 12th holes to humble the par-72, 6,415-yard course.

"That was the most consistent round I have ever played," said Arcillas as he returned to the same course where his dad Toto, now a touring pro, toted bags in the late eighties.

Together with his first-day 73, Arcillas has a 143-aggregate, one-under-par for 36 holes in the event sponsored by the Polyfoam RGC Int'l Corp. Uratex Phils., Inc.

If Arcillas was consistent, Bayron, 21, was as hot as he toured the down-and-up layout with nines of 33-37 for that 70 and goes into today’s third round at 144—just a shot behind Arcillas.

Ruben de la Rosa of Wack Wack, who took the opening round lead after a 71, carded a 75 to go down to second at 146.