By REYNALD MAGALLON
Filipino-American Rico Hoey couldn’t sustain his scintillating start, salvaging only a 2-under par 70 in the second round to slip from the top of the standings in the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico on Friday, Nov. 8.
Unlike in the opening round where he shone with a 5-under par 67 to gain a share the lead with two others, the 29-year-old struggled this time on the back nine with two bogeys and a double bogey against only two birdies.
He did regain his touch on the front nine, birdying four times for a two-day aggregate of 137.
That pulled him down to a share of the 15th spot and five shots off co-leaders Nico Echavarria of Colombia and Max Greyserman of the US.
Echavarria shot a 63 in a big follow up to his opening round of 69 while Greyserman fired a 64 following a first round of 68 to rise from a share of the fourth spot.
Hoey is seeking his first PGA title after coming close twice — a playoff loss at the ISCO Championship last July and a third-place finish at the Shriners Children’s Open last month.
