RICHARD Abaring kept his charge going, firing a 70 in the second round of the 2019 PGT Qualifying tournament on Wednesday at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas.
Abaring rammed in five birdies against three bogeys and has a two-day aggregate of 139.
Amateur star Rupert Zaragosa also boosted his bid for playing rights on the domestic tour, turning in the day’s best of 69 for a 144 total.
Orlan Sumcad carded a 74 to join Charles Hong, who fumbled with a 75, at third at 146.
Another amateur, Noel Langamin, carded a 73 to lead the group at 147, including Marvin Dumandan, who also turned in a one-over 71, Efren Reyes Jr., who shot a 74, and Joseph Suarez, who matched par 72 at the challenging, up-and-down layout.
Also boosting their bids for next year’s PGT cards are Jun Bernis (71), Cookie La’O (72), Erwin Arcillas (75) and Rey Pagunsan (75), who all assembled 149s while Jet Mathay and Francis Morilla pooled identical 150s after a pair of 75s.
Seventy-two players from the starting field of 91 made it to the final 36 holes of the eliminations.
The top 50 will earn Category 5 status and the rest settling for Category 7 in the 2019 PGT starting fields.
Barely making the cut at 169 were Tonlits Asistio (86), Bernard Salvador (80), Nick Aleluya (84), Ian Vergara (85) and Marlon Jamero (88).