Que grabs lead as Nakajima wobbles in Anvaya golfest

MORONG, Bataan – Angelo Que and Toru Nakajima switched places at the top with a 69 and 72, respectively, in another windy day here as they built a huge lead from the rest of the pack halfway through the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational yesterday.

In what has shaped up to be a twoman duel at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club, Que and Nakajima fumbled at the finish in another challenging day but the former still came through with a three-under card to grab the lead at 139 and the latter matching par 72 for a 140.

Que, who closed out with a bogey and double bogey at the front for a 70 in the first round, flashed the form the netted him a three-stroke win over Tony Lascuña here in 2015, birdying five of the first 11 holes to surge ahead. But he hit a wayward shot on the par-4 17th and made a double-bogey for a 3336 card for a five-under 139 total.

Nakajima also appeared headed for another bogey-free round with two birdies after 10 holes. But he wavered with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 18 and settled for a 72.

Albin Engino and American Nicolas Paez carded identical 71s for joint third at 147, seven shots off Nakajima, virtually setting the stage for a two-way battle for the top R650,000 purse with still two rounds left in the kickoff leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

Tony Lascuña, eager to rebound from a wind-blown 84 Wednesday, birdied the first three holes at the front and went four-under with another birdie on No. 17 but bogeyed the last to match Que’s 69.

He did make the cut pegged at a high 12-over 156 but the reigning Order of Merit champion stood too far behind at 153 for joint 19th with four others.