Back-up men pull down RP anew

The Philippines reeled farther back as its backup crew continued to flounder in the second day of action in the Asia Pacific Golf Team Championship, limping home with nine-over par 222 Wednesday and falling by 14 strokes behind New Zealand in Port Douglas, Queensland Wednesday.

After firing a solid 69 in the first day, Jerome Delariarte slowed down a bit with a 73 while Juvic Pagunsan improved from 72 with a gutsy even par-71 card. But Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan came ruffled by the winds for the second straight day and found the sleek putting surface of The Links layout not to their liking.

Both shot 77s, one of which counted in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event and which dampened the Filipinos’ bid in the biennial event otherwise known as the Nomura Cup.

Counting its first round aggregate of 217, the Philippines, which started the round six shots off the pace, remained in fourth place with a 439 but will have to overhaul a big 14-stroke deficit with two rounds left to foil the bids of the New Zealand and Australia in the event which drew 15 nations from the Asia-Pacific region.

Windy conditions made for lightning quick greens and tough scoring but New Zealand and Australia, in familiar territory, showed the benefit of local knowledge.

The Aussies are trying to become the first nation to win the Nomura Cup for three consecutive years.

With Brad Shilton firing the day’s best 68, New Zealand kept its hold of the lead with a 425 after a 214 although fancied Australia made inroads as US amateur champion Nick Flanagan settled down and shot a one-under 70 after a 76.

The Aussies turned in the day’s best score of 213, with James Nitties matching par 71 and Michael Sim shooting a 72, and moved within two strokes off the two-day leader New Zealand, which also drew a 71 from Bradley Lles and a 75 from Matthew Holten.

Japan slid to third from a share of second with a 434 after a 220 as Yuki Ishikawa made a 72, Haruo Fujishima a 73 and Takayoshi Iseki a 75.

Despite his two over par card, Delariarte remained in second place in the race for individual honors with a 142 in a tie with Aussie James Nitties and Ishikawa, one stroke behind the 141 put in by Shilton. Pagunsan likewise stayed in the hunt with a 143.

But Admiral Louie Fernandez, NGAP vice president and delegation head and the team’s skipper, and coach Roger Retuerto hope Bayron and Dumandan would finally settle down and dish out games expected of them and put the Philippines back into contention for the title run in the final round.

India proved to be the day’s biggest loser when it tumbled from a share of fourth with the Philippines to ninth with a 448 after a 231.