Golf: Mamat pulls away in 96th Philippine Open

MANDALUYONG—Singapore's Mardan Mamat pulled away from the pack despite a two-under-par 70 in a punishing day at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club's tough East course to hold a three-shot lead against the Philippines' Ferdinand Aunzo and Antonio Lascuna and American Ben Fox midway in the ICTSI Philippine Open.  

Mamat went bogey-free on Friday with two birdies to boot. He has a five-under-par 139 total in the chase for the $47,550 champion's purse out of the $300,000 prize money in the 96th edition of Asia's oldest and most prestigious national championship.  

Aunzo, meanwhile, became the biggest revelation. Playing in his third PHL Open, he birdied the third from 30 inches and the fourth from eight feet. Though he bogeyed the 11th, a par-four, he came through with a birdie on the 13th from a beautiful four-and-a-half foot putt for a 36-hole haul of 142.

"I never been in contention in the PHL Open than I am now. It adds a little pressure on me to compete and maintain this kind of level in my game. Hopefully, I'll hold up in the next 36 holes," said Aunzo in Filipino.

Joining Aunzo for a share of second spot were Lascuna, who turned in a second one-under-par 71, and Fox, who described his round as sloppy.

"I think I have a chance at the title. I'm hitting very well, from my driver to irons to putter," said Lascuna, whose best PHL Open finish happened in 2002 when he placed third to champion Rick Gibson.

Only 10 players are in red figures at the halfway stage, with the cut set at six-over-par 150 and which saw 79 players making it through to the weekend rounds in the Asian Tour's second event.

Miguel Tabuena, the youngest competitor at 17, produced an even par 72 to lurk behind on 143, alongside four others including erstwhile leader Lu Tze-shyan of Chinese Taipei.

The 41-year-old Mars Pucay, another Asian Tour veteran, was on 144 after a two-over-par 74.  He was at five under after 13 holes, with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4. He tumbled with a bogey on the fifth, a triple 7 on the seventh and a bogey on the eighth.

"You can't mess around with the East course. The greens are in best shape but the pin placements were too hard to go for a birdie," said Pucay.  

Six shots down was 2009 Open champ Elmer Salvador (73-145). Charles Hong, who came up with a 70 in Thursday's opener, limped with a 76 for 146. Cassius Casas (74) and Mike Bibat (75) were on 148 while Frankie Minoza was on 149 after a forgettable 79.

Also making the cut were Jhonel Ababa (77-149), 2008 titlist Angelo Que (76-149), Anthony Fernando (76-150) and 2010 victor Artemio Murakami (72-150). — JVP, GMA News