LIPA City, Batangas – Dino Villanueva went on a birdie-spree at the back to produce a six-under 66 and the clubhouse lead halfway through the Summit Point World 18 Challenge here yesterday.
The 34-year-old journeyman from Cagayan de Oro ran off four straight birdies from No. 10 to keep the momentum of his lead-sharing 67 fashioned out in harsh conditions in afternoon play Wednesday. He traded two birdies with the same number of bogeys in the next eight holes then capped his 34-32 card with birdies in the last two par-5s on a hot, windy day at the Summit Point Golf Club.
With erstwhile co-leaders Erwin Arcilla and Thai Sutijet Kooratanapisan still on the course, Villanueva had an impressive 11-under 133 aggregate with Janne Kaske of Finland matching the Filipino leader’s six-under card to seize the provisional second spot at 137.
Like Villanueva, Kaske pressed his bid early with an eagle on No. 3 and three birdies against a bogey for a 32 then birdied three of the last five holes to negate his other bogey on the 17th for a 32-34 card, putting him in title contention after missing the cut at PGT Asia Forest Hills.
Jobim Carlos, two down at the start of the day with a 69, birdied two of the first three holes, also at the back, then survived a rollercoaster round of 70 that featured an eagle and four more birdies against four bogeys and a double bogey. The Philippine Golf Tour’s Order of Merit winner this year pooled a 139 for third but fell six strokes off Villanueva.
Taiwanese Wang Tsung Chieh charged back with three birdies in the last six holes at the front to shoot a 69, catching former PGT Asia leg winner Justin Quiban, carding a second 70, at 140.
