Late birdies keep Can, Jaraula in command

MANILA, Philippines – Tackling a championship course as tough as Wack Wack’s East, American Tarik Can proved it can be tamed – even by a first-timer.

Settling for first day honors in a jampacked leaderboard Wednesday, Reymon Jaraula made sure to stay on top as the duo birdied No. 7 on separate flights to post a pair of one-under 71s and remain as co-leaders halfway through the Aboitiz Invitational.

Can struck a superb approach shot on the tricky par-4 seventh and drilled in a curling putt from 20 feet, capping a 35-36 card in another day of changing fortunes in the $100,000 event serving as the fourth leg of the third Philippine Golf Tour Asia season.

Not only did Can and Jaraula produce two of tournament-best three best cards after 36 holes but they also found themselves on top of the leaderboard (143) that continued to shuffle names until they came in late in the another punishing day at the fabled layout.

“This course is very difficult to play – tall roughs, combined with occasional strong wind made it tougher,” said Can, who had turned in forgettable finishes in his first two tournaments on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

“It was a good thing I was steady from tee to green. Hopefully, I can do the same (today),” added the bearded shotmaker, who joined the pro ranks right after college at Augusta State.

Jaraula flashed some kind of consistency in taming the dreaded layout, birdying Nos. 2 and 3 for the second straight day then rebounded from a disastrous double-bogey on No. 4 with that late birdie from eight feet to find himself a bewildered co-leader for the first time in an unproductive five-year career.

But despite Can and Jaraula’s surprise surge, the chase for the top $17,500 remains as tight and unpredictable as ever.