Salvador wrests 3-shot lead with solid 65

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines  – Elmer Salvador shouldered himself past a host of fancied rivals with a flawless eagle-spiked seven-under 65 yesterday as he moved closer to pocketing the richest pot ever staked on the local circuit with a three-stroke lead over Tony Lascuña in the second round of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship at the Orchard layout here.

Salvador, the former Order of Merit and Phiippine Open winner seeking an end to a year-long slump, rolled in a sidehill, downhill putt from around 45 feet on the par-3 No. 7, ending a run of scrambling pars and sparking a rash of birdies with eagle to boot for a 34-31.

“I really got inspired from that unlikely birdie, it somehow boosted my confidence,” said the Davaoeño shotmaker in Filipino, who birdied No. 9 next from five feet then hit a wedge shot from 77 yards out into the cup on the par-4 11th for eagle. He capped his sizzling round with three straight birdies from No. 14 inside six feet.

Counting his earlier 69 fashioned out early Wednesday, Salvador took control with a 10-under 134, lining himself up for a first victory since winning the Mt. Malarayat leg of last year’s circuit in Batangas.

“It’s been a long time since I last won, I just hope this could be it,” said Salvador, trying to become the first winner of the whopping P450,000 top purse in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Lascuña, who lost the crown here last year to Benjie Magada in a two-hole playoff, primed up for another shot at the title as he likewise turned in a bogey-free round of five-under 67 to assume the challenger’s role at 137, three strokes adrift.

Juvic Pagunsan, who led after the morning session with a second straight 69, settled for third at 138 and will join Salvador and Lascuña in the championship flight today.

“They are both good, solid players, I think I need to shoot a 69 to win it,” said Salvador, who placed joint 33rd in last week’s ICTSI Philippine Open at Wack Wack.

Richard Sinfuego, another player seeking to end a long slump, also shot a 69 for a 139 while Anthony Fernando and Antonio Asistio II also carded identical 69s to lead the 140 group that includes first round co-leader Frankie Miñoza and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon.

Miñoza, one of the four players who shot a 68 Wednesday, struggled in the early going, bogeying two of the first three holes and went three-over after 11. He, however, rebounded with two birdies in the last four holes to salvage a 72.

Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-The Country Club, fired a 70 and zeroed in on the low amateur honors in the 54-hole tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Orlan Sumcad and Gene Bondoc were at 141 after a 71 and 70, respectively.

Jhonnel Ababa and Ferdie Aunzo, who also opened with a pair of 68s, hobbled with a 74 and 76 and slid to 142 and 144, respectively, while early favorites Angelo Que shot a 69 to tie Ababa, Artemio Murakami (70), Michael Bibat (70), Joenard Rates (71) and Gerald Rosales (72) while Jay Bayron, runner-up in last week’s Phl Open, hardly moved with a 71 for a 143.

Longshot Al Cruz actually tied Pagunsan, Elmer Salvador and Albin Engino with a late 69 in the first round but fumbled with five bogeys against two birdies yesterday and limped with a 75 to join Bayron at 143 along with Miguel Tabuena (72).