Richard Abaring kept his charge going, adding a 70 to a 69 to pull away by five over new pursuer amateur Rupert Zaragosa after 36 holes of the 2019 PGT Qualifying School at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas yesterday.
Abaring rammed in five birdies against three bogeys for a 34-36 card and a two-day aggregate of 139 as he built a big five-shot cushion over Zaragosa heading to the last two rounds of the elims that offers 50-plus ties berths for next year’s Philippine Golf Tour.
The diminutive Zaragosa, bracing for big-time golf after a flourishing career in the ranks, turned in the day’s best of 69 to move to second at 144 while Orlan Sumcad carded a 74 to join Charles Hong, who fumbled with a 75, at third at 146.
Another amateur, Noel Langamin, carded a 73 to lead the 147 scorers, who included Marvin Dumandan, who also turned in a one-over card, Efren Reyes Jr., who shot a 74, and Joseph Suarez, who matched par 72 at the challenging, up-and-down layout.
Also boosting their bids for next year’s PGT cards are Jun Bernis (71), Cookie La’O (72), Erwin Arcillas (75) and Rey Pagunsan (75), who all assembled 149s while Jet Mathay and Francis Morilla pooled identical 150s after a pair of 75s.
Seventy two players from the starting field of 91 made it to the final 36 holes of the elims where the top 50 plus ties will earn Category 5 status and the rest settling for Category 7 in the 2019 PGT starting fields.
Barely making the cut at 169 were Tonlits Asistio (86), Bernard Salvador (80), Nick Aleluya (84), Ian Vergara (85) and Marlon Jamero (88).
