Birdie-binge finish pads Aidric Chan’s lead to eight strokes

MANILA, Philippines — Aidric Chan withstood Carl Corpus and Luis Castro’s early threat then went on a birdie-binge finish for a six-under 66 at the start of the last of the two-stage 2019 SEA Games men’s team qualifier at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac yesterday.

Chan birdied four of the last five holes, sparked by a three-straight feat from No. 14, in a scorching finish to close in on one of the berths in the national men’s team vying in the Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting on Nov. 30-Dec. 10.

After topping Stage I with a two-under 286 last week for a three-stroke lead over three rivals, the Ateneo student now has a 352 aggregate padding his lead to eight strokes over Corpus, who carded a 71 for 360.

Gab Manotoc also fired a one-under card to move from fifth to third at 361 with three rounds left in the grueling elims that will select the three players who will banner the Phl team’s campaign in the biennial games, also to be played at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout.

Castro and Sean Ramos, tied with Corpus at second after the first phase, floundered with 73 and 75 and slipped to fourth and fifth at 362 and 364, respectively, with the rest of the 13 survivors still lagging behind to pose a threat for the leading contenders in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, the PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific and hosted by Luisita.

Edward Dy matched par 72 for a 368, Paolo Wong hobbled with a 73 for a 370 and Kristoffer Arevalo fumbled with a 75 for a 371 followed by Ivan Monsalve (75-372), Lanz Uy (75-374), Alexander Bisera (77-374), Ryan Monsalve (73-376) and Rolando Bregente (78-381).