Clavecilla surges to four-shot lead

MANILA, Philippines - Iggy Clavecilla played just good enough at the frontside and watched first day leader Francis Gaston fumble with a slew of bogeys then poured it all at the back to fire a 71 and open a four-shot lead in the second round of the Philippine Senior Amateur Golf Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas yesterday.

One stroke behind Gaston at the start of the round, Clavecilla took a four-shot lead right after nine holes with a 37 as the erstwhile frontrunner stumbled with six bogeys, including three straight from No. 6, against a lone birdie and made the turn at 42.

The top Luisita bet then knocked down three birdies against a bogey at the back to anchor the first under-par round in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

With a 145 aggregate, Clavecilla posted a four-shot lead over Gaston as he moved 18 holes away from completing a five-peat in the centerpiece Open division of the tournament for the country’s top golfing elders.

Rolly Viray, who matched Clavecilla’s 74 in the first round, kept in step with the reigning four-time champion with a 37 at the front and actually took the lead briefly with a par on No. 10. But the top Cangolf bet, a former winner here, wavered with four bogeys in the last seven holes and limped with a 40 for a 77.

He slid to third with a 151, six shots adrift.

Richie Garcia steadied with a 36 at the back and finished with a second straight 77, moving up to joint fourth at 154 with Jose Mari Hechanova, who strung up two 38s for a 76.

Florene delos Santos made a 78 for joint sixth at 155 with Dave Hernandez, who fought back with a closing 36 for a 75, while Tony Olives turned in a 156 after an 80.

Caloy Coscoluella made two 39s for a 157 at ninth while Pepot Iñigo turned in an 80 for a 158.

While Clavecilla is tipped to coast to another romp, the title chase in the other divisions is expected to go down-to-the-wire at the close of the 36-hole competitions today.

Bryan Cockrell showed the way in Category II (60-64) after a 75 for a three-shot lead over Edgar Villamor, who had a 78, while Mario Lugay paced Category III (65-69) with a 78, two shots clear of Ben Liclican, who had an 80.

Cesar Castro made an 81 for a one-stroke lead over Danny Sarmiento (82) in the Super Senior I division (70-74) while Jun Galindez shot an 89 and had a six-stroke lead over Charles Robertson (95) in the Super Senior II (75-and-above) class.