Mindanao Times

Brunei ace grabs NGAP regional lead with 72

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AK MD Syakir of Brunei birdied the last hole to save a 72 then watched Jonar Austria hobble with a bogey for a two-shot swing and the lead after 36 holes of the NGAP Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championsh­ip at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac yesterday.

Syakir matched Austria’s opening 36 and bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 10 with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 then rebounded from another bogey on the 17th with that closing birdie that netted him a two-stroke cushion with a 145 heading to the final 18 holes of the annual event organized and conducted by the National Golf Associatio­n of the Philippine­s.

Austria, who wrested control in the early going also with a 72, kept the lead wth a par on the 10th but bogeyed two of the next five holes and finished with a bogey for a 75 and 147.

Defending champion Sean Ramos birdied the tough No. 17 but his pair of 38s and a 76 put him four shots behind at 149 while Dan Cruz also hobbled with a 76 for solo fourth at 151.

Jacob Rolida and Paolo Barro also struggled with a pair of 80s and remained tied at 154.

Sophia Blanco also surged ahead in women’s Elite play of the 54-hole championsh­ip sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal and Metro Pacific Investment­s and serving as part of PLDT Group National Amateur Tour with a 74 to post a three-shot lead at 148 over erstwhile leader Laurea Duque, who skied to a closing 42 for a 78 and a 151.

Rianne Malixi shot the day’s best score of 73 and moved to third at 152 while last year’s winner Kim Seo Yun of Korea stayed in the hunt with a 153 despite a 76.

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