Pacto fires 68; other RP bets falter

Robert Pactolerin fired a 68 but the rest of the six Filipinos fumbled in the second round of the Hong Kong Open now paced by Australian Kim Felton who set a course record of 60 at the Hong Kong Golf Club yesterday.

Pactolerin had a 36-hole aggregate of 137, five-under par over the par-71 layout. Although he remained in joint 16th, Pactolerin fell eight strokes off the pace as Felton sizzled with that bogey-free 60 to seize a two-shot lead.

Gerald Rosales, who had a 67 in the first round, matched par 71 as he dropped from seventh to a share of 21st with a four-under 138, along with Rodrigo Cuello, who shot a 70, while Cassius Casas had a 71 for a 140. Felton birdied 11 holes, including an incredible five-hole stretch from No. 12, as he strung up an amazing 30-30 round to grab the lead with a 13-under 129.

That was two shots up on first round leader Simon Dyson of England, who had a 67 for a 131 while four players, led by Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee (67) were bunched in third place at 134. Other eight-under par scorers were Taiwan’s Yeh Chang-ting (68), Adrian Percey of Australia (64) and Japanese Norihiro Kumagai (65).