Gandionco seizes lead with sizzling 68

MANILA, Philippines - Gio Gandionco came charging home with three birdies to fire a four-under 68 and wrest a two-stroke lead over Malaysian Fezley Ahmad Chua in the second round of the Philippine Amateur Junior (Open) Championship at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu yesterday.

Settling down with his game after a so-so 74 in the opener of the 54-hole tournament Wednesday, Gandionco gunned down six birdies, spiking his finish with three straight birdies to storm in front with a two-under 142 total in the premier Group 1 division of the inaugural tournament serving as the fourth leg of the Globe-NGAP (National Golf Assocation of the Phils.) circuit.

While Gandionco surged at the finish, Chua, who showed up the field in the first round with a 71, sputtered coming home, finishing with a bogey-riddled 38 for a 73 and a 144.

Gen Nagai stood another two strokes back at 146 after a 74 in the tournament backed by Pancake House, Titleist and Golf Depot.

Justin Quiban scored a hole-in-one and finished with a 73 to tie Basti Lorenzo, who carded a 75, at 147, while club bet Lloyd Jefferson Go failed to gain ground with a second straight 74.

Quiban used a 6-iron from 180 yards to shoot his ace on No. 5 but fumbled with four bogeys at the back for a 34-39 card.

Meanwhile, Kristopher Arevalo shot a 71 and took a six-shot lead in Group 2 with a 146 aggregate. Jets Sajulga, playing out of Del Monte, carded a 74 for second at 153, while Harrison Yu also made a 74 for a 155 in a tie with Jaime Oposa, who floundered with an 81 after a 74.

In girl’s play, Annika Cedo widened her Group 2 lead to four over Sofia Chabon and Lois Kaye Go after a 73 and a 151. Chabon and Go fired 76s for 155s.

Junior World championship veteran Bianca Pagdanganan, on the other hand, remained atop of Group 1 after a 76 for a two-shot lead over Pamela Mariano, who also had a 76.

Felicia Medalla, the co-leader in the first round, skied to an 81 and fell by five while Ericka Julienne Lim submitted a 79 for 159.