Unknown jungolfer Mata 10 shots back in Shenzhen

Aristeo Mata of the Philippines came through with a six-over-par 78 but India's Abhijit Chadha was in control in the second round of the fifth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at the Mission Hills Golf Club's Faldo course in Shenzhen, China. A relative unknown junior golfer, Mata was at 20th place with a 152 total counting his opening round of 74. He was 10 strokes off from the 142 of Chadha, the 17-year-old Chandigarh native who continues to dominate the field after firing a 69. Mata turned in bogeys on Nos. 5, 7, and 9 for 39 at the turn. He birdied the 13th although he followed it up with a triple bogey at the 14th. He made bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 for another 39. Mata's brother, Agustin, added an 82 to his first day 75 for 157 as he aims for a top 30 finish. Marvi Monsalve, a product of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP), shot an 80 for 164, good for 36th. Lawrence Celestino, winner of the Faldo Series-Philippines in May last year at the TAT Filipinas in San Pedro, Laguna, was the last Filipino to check in with 166 on two 83s in the 54-hole championship. Another Indian, Ashbeer Saini, was a shot behind on 143 (71-72). Overnight leader Jin Daxing of China limped to a 75 and was two shots off the lead on level par 144. Defending champion Masamichi Ito of Japan lies in fourth place on two over par after a second 73. Although four adrift, he still has a chance to become the first ever player to win three consecutive Faldo Series titles having followed his win at Mission Hills last year and the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final at the Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland in September. – Adrian Flores, JVP, GMA News