Fernandos seize control

BUKIDNON, Philippines – Cousins Mhark Fernando and Anthony Fernando sustained their form and took the 1-2 positions with a 67 and 68, respectively, in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI Del Monte Championship yesterday but the top guns lurked behind, ensuring another wild finish in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour at the Del Monte Golf Club here.

Mhark Fernando, back in shape after an elbow injury, tamed the frontside on his homeward trip with three birdies for a 33 and a 67, his nine-under 135 aggregate moved him within 18 holes from scoring his maiden victory in the pro ranks since he humbled the men of the tour in 2009 when he won the ICTSI Riviera Classic as an amateur.

“I’ve been hitting the ball well and my putting has been okay,” said the soft-spoken former national champion, who also made three birdies at the back from where he teed off to negate his lone missed-green bogey mishap at the par-3 16th.

Anthony Fernando, also a former national champion, went without a bogey after 32 holes before dropping a stroke on No. 15 after missing the green. Still, he turned in a career-best 136 over 36 holes with back-to-back 68s for a second stint in a championship flight with Mhark Fernando and rookie pro Jerson Balasabas.

“I like my chances but I need to work doubly hard since there are too many contenders,” said Anthony Fernando, whose best finish in a three-year pro career was joint second with Ramil Bisera in the ICTSI Mimosa stop won by Marvin Dumandan last year.

He joined Juvic Pagunsan and Jay Bayron in the championship flight at ICTSI Royal Northwoods this year but cracked under pressure and hobbled with a closing 74 and tumbled to joint fourth in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

After a brilliant 67 in the first round, Casas struggled with his putting all day and settled for a two-under 70, dropping two shots off the pace at 137 in a tie with Balasabas, who shot a 67 for one of the day’s two bogey-less rounds.

“They just won’t go in,” rued Casas, referring to his four birdie putts inside four feet that lipped the cup, in Filipino. He three-putted No. 3 from 20 feet and lost a ball on No. 5 for his two bogeys against four birdies.

Asked what he would need to shoot today (Friday) to retain the crown he won due to disqualification of three players last year, Casas said: “With all the top players bunched together, I would need to shoot a six-under to win.”

A fierce battle for the crown and the top P200,000 purse is indeed in the works.

Looming large at six-under 138 is the most feared player in the fold – Pagunsan, who wheeled back into contention for a fifth leg crown after an opening 70 with a 68, capped by closing birdies on Nos. 8 and 9.

Elmer Salvador, who blew his title bid here last year with a final hole infraction, torched the backside with a 32 for a 68 as he matched Pagunsan’s 138 to form an intriguing second-to-last threesome that includes Casas.

Unheralded Randy Garalde made the day’s other bogey-free round of 70 as he moved to solo seventh at 139 in a tie with Artemio Murakami, who carded a 69.

Ababa, winner at ICTSI Iloilo leg who shared the first round lead with Casas, hobbled with a 73 and slid to 140 in a tie with Carl Santos-Ocampo, who fired a 68, and Angelo Que, who fired a 31 at the back for a 69.

Before Pagunsan wrapped up his fourth leg title in the ICTSI Apo Invitational last week, playoffs have marked the previous two stages of the circuit with Ababa nipping Bayron in sudden death to score a breakthrough at ICTSI Iloilo Challenge.

Robert Pactolerin also ended a long title drought by edging Tony Lascuña on the fourth playoff hole at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic last month.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.