Que, 2 others surge ahead in ICTSI Classic

MINOZA

QUE

BAYRON

LIPA – Angelo Que wielded a superb all-around game to shoot a four-under 68, moving in front of a crowded leaderboard that included an unfancied Erwin Vinluan and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon in the second round of the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas here, Wednesday.
Que, who salvaged an even par 72 in late afternoon Tuesday, rattled off four birdies in a flawless frontside stint, surging from joint 15th to a share of the lead at 140 heading into the last 18 holes of the P1 million championship, the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The back-to-back The Country Club Invitational champion actually hit another birdie on No. 12 but yielded back the shot when he flubbed an eight-foot par-putt on the par-3 15th, enabling Vinluan and Gialon to catch up with him.
Vinluan produced the most explosive windup in another challenging day, birdying the last three holes at the back to fire a 69 and find himself on an unfamiliar place – with the big guns of the circuit.
The former member of the national team actually made an eagle on the reachable par-5 No. 9 but that feat only atoned for his double-bogey mishap on No. 3.
With a 140, Vinluan is assured of a crack at the top P200,000 purse and a minimum of P7,500, his earning in each of the four times that he made the cut in last year’s edition of the tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-TCC squad, made a big start at the back then recovered from a shaky stint midway through the round with two birdies in the last four holes at the front for another 69 and a 140.
Frankie Minoza, on a break from the US Seniors Tour, made his presence felt after a so-so 72 in the first round as he turned in a three-under 69 anchored on a fiery stint of three birdies at the back.
But he loomed large at 141, just one shot off the pace, and in a tie with Sumcad, who flourished in exacting playing condition Tuesday but could only shoot a 72 despite an early morning start yesterday.
The 37-year-old Sumcad even settled for a par on No. 9 which he earlier eagled and gunned down just two birdies to negate a pair of bogey mishaps on a course he calls home.
Unheralded Arnold Villacencio threatened to gatecrash the big guns party as he carded 70 to join the fancied Minoza and Sumcad in fourth.
Ferdie Aunzo, on a slump after winning the ICTSI Royal Northwoods title last year, matched Que’s 68 as he jumped from a share of 30th to joint eighth at 143, three strokes adrift and in a tie with Ernie Rellon, who fired a 69, and rookie pro Dante Becierra, who made a 71.
Teener Miguel Tabuena struggled with a 73 but remained in the hutn with an even 144 for a share of 11th with Cassius Casas, who had  a 70, and Gerald Rosales and Rufino Bayron, who both matched par 72s.
Juvic Pagunsan, winner of the kickoff leg at ICTSI Royal Northwoods last week, failed to recover from an atrocious 83 in the first round as he hobbled with a 77 for a 160, his worst two-day total in a checkered pro career.
Pagunsan, who is leaving on Monday to see action in the rich Malaysian Open, blamed his poor game to a swollen right thumb as he missed the cut for the first time in a long, long while.
"It hurts really bad but I dont want to make it an excuse," he said.PR