Korean Wang continues to tame windy Riviera

Korean Wang Jeung-hun survived another windy day at the Langer course and continued to dominate with a three-under-par 68 to post a comfortable nine-stroke lead in the second round of the Philippine Amateur Golf Championsips at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite. Wang, 15, built his lead by firing five birdies to offset his two bogeys for a 142 aggregate in 36 holes in the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP)-organized event. NGAP is using the tournament as its guide for the formation of a national training pool for international golf tournaments. Still, the reigning DHL Amateur Open champ is not discounting the possibility of anyone catching up in the next rounds. Jobim Carlos, the boys' division winner in The Montecillo Cup, followed with a 151 after submitting a 75. First round co-leader John Kier Abdon fired a terrible 79, which was made worse by a triple bogey on the par-five No. 16 for a 153 total. Cebuano Gio Gandionco struggled against the windy condition as he stumbled to an 80 for 155. Art Arbole and Zannie Boy Gialon each shot an 81, Sonny Villaber returned with a 79 and Lawrence Celestino came through with a 76 to tie on 159. Koreans Sung Hwan-yung and Kang Youl-hwang were in fifth at 157 after shooting 79s even as Somprad Pattasuwan rebounded somewhat with a 77 for 161. Filipina-Japanese Chihiro Ikeda came through with a three-over 74 to grab three-shot advantage over the 77 of Dottie Ardina at the start of the ladies division. Ikeda is bidding for her third crown this season and is hoping to unseat Irina Gabasa from the championship. She has already won the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open and the Thailand Ladies Open. Andrea Unson, with three titles already this season, was third with 78. Jayvie Agojo, in search of maiden victory this year, had a 79. - Adrian Flores, JVP, GMA News