Miñoza trails by 8 despite a 68

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran Frankie Miñoza took the cudgels for the young Filipino bets who faded in the second round of the Iskandar Johor Open, turning in a four-under 68 but trailing three-time major champion Padraig Harrington at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Johor Bahru, Malaysia yesterday.

Miñoza, who carded an eagle-aided 72 in the first round, rammed in four birdies at the back for that 68, moving from joint 55th to a share of 22nd at 140 with two rounds left in the $1.25 million event.

That was nine strokes behind Harrington, the Ryder Cup star chasing his first victory in two years who produced another eagle-spiked five-under 67 to surge ahead of the field at 131.

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, narrowly missed an eagle on No. 18 to tie Harrington as he fired the day’s best of 65 in swirling winds for a 132.

Korea’s Lee Sung, who was born deaf and communicates by lip reading, shot a bogey-free 68 to lie three shots back in third position while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul of Korea was a further stroke back with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Australia’s Scott Hend on 135.

Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan, who led RP’s bid with a pair of 68s in the opening round, lost their touch with the former struggling with a 73 for a 141 and the latter limping with a 75 for a 143.