Salvador catches Ababa at helm

MANILA, Philippines - Elmer Salvador matched amateur Jhonnel Ababa’s three-under par 69 to force a two-way tie for the lead in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI-Valley Golf Challenge at the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo yesterday.

Salvador, trying to become the first player to win two legs on the 10-stage tour after topping the ICTSI Sherwood Classic last July, birdied the last two holes to shoot a 35-34 round and catch Ababa at the helm at 137, seven-under par.

The reed-thin Ababa, priming up for next month’s SEA Games in Laos, earlier turned in his own version of a 69 that included four birdies against a bogey as he moved in the threshold of becoming the second amateur to win on the P10 million circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Reigning national champion Mhark Fernando, Ababa’s teammate in the ICTSI-Calatagan team, humbled the star-studded field under severe condition to rule the ICTSI-Riviera Classic last September.

Rufino Bayron, one of the mainstays of the ICTSI squad, was actually the first amateur to win on the revival of the pro circuit, beating Jerome Delariarte in sudden death to capture the ICTSI-Valley Golf Challenge title late last year.

Unlike Salvador, Ababa used a sizzling frontside charge to seize control in the morning group, coming up with birdies on Nos. 5, 7 and 9 for a 33 and 69. He also birdied No. 11 but dropped a shot on the par-5 17th.

With Salvador and Ababa moving five shots ahead of Richard Sinfuego and three others, the battle for top honors is virtually reduced to a veteran campaigner and an amateur hotshot today.