Foo, Carlos card 69s, set stage for shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Gregory Foo and Jobim Carlos threatened to turn the battle for the Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship crown into a two-man duel after firing identical 69s yesterday and leaving behind erstwhile leader Clyde Mondilla and the rest of the pack halfway through the event at Cangolf’s north course.

Foo failed to sustain a flawless three-under card at the back from where he teed off as the Singapore ace scrambled for a 36, enabling Carlos to catch up with a closing 35, also at the front, as the duo remained on top at five-under 139 after opening 70s.

Mondilla also turned in a two-under card in the opener of the 72-hole championship but the former national champion, after a steady 36, reeled back with a 38 at the backside, marred by a double-bogey on the par-5 14th, for a 74 that dropped him five strokes off the pace at 144.

Jerome Ng, the other fancied Singaporean bet, fired a 71 after a 73 but could only tie Mondilla at third while Miko Alejandro matched par 72 for a 145 for a share of fifth with Choi Jae Seung, who had a 73, in the tournament presented by Globe Telecom, Inc., Pancake House and Airphil Express.

Globe is offering two Blackberry Bold cell phones while Airphil Express will award two roundtrip tickets to Singapore to the winners in both the men’s and ladies divisions.

Rupert Zaragoza, the reigning national and junior champion, recovered from a disastrous 79 Thursday with a day’s best four-under 68 on a five-birdie, one-bogey stint, moving out of nowhere and into seventh place at 147.

Raymund Gonzales, who teamed up with Carlos to win last week’s NGAP’s National Doubles title, also rebounded with a 72 for a 148 in a tie with Gio Gandionco, who faltered with a 75.

Sarah Ababa, meanwhile, shot a gutsy 72 as she surged past first round leader and ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio, who fumbled with a 76, in the ladies side of the tournament backed by Tanduay Distillers, Inc. as major sponsor and supported by Club Car, Pacsports, Golf Depot, Autohub and Callaway with Acacia Hotel as official hotel and Titleist as official ball.

Ababa gunned down three birdies against a bogey at the back to salvage an even card as she pooled a 36-hole aggregate of 147 for a one-stroke lead over Guioguio, who dropped to 148.

Dottie Ardina floundered with a 76 and dropped three strokes behind at 150 while Jayvie Agojo shot a 73 to move into contention at 151 in a tie with Princess Superal, who made a 76.

The ladies take a break today with the final round also set tomorrow, according to the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Foo looked headed for an explosive round after knocking down birdie putts inside 10 feet on Nos. 10, 14 and 17. But the reigning Singapore Junior champion had a rollercoaster round at the front, bogeying No. 1 but birdying the next, dropping another stroke on the fourth only to recover it on No. 5 hole, before closing out with another bogey-birdie stint from No. 7 for that 36.

Carlos trailed Foo by one at the turn despite a solid two-birdie effort, also at the back. But the Filipino ace fought back with a birdie on No. 8 to draw level and set the stage for a shootout with Foo in the final two rounds.