RAYMART Tolentino fired a three-over-par 75 to extend his overnight one-stroke lead to four against a new pursuer in Park Min-ung of Korea after Wednesday’s second round of the Philippine Junior Amateur Championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.
The 16-year-old Tolentino had four birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey 5 on the 11th.
But the young shotmaker coached by former two-time world junior champion Carito Villaroman still stood out on a trying day at the windswept Sherwood Hills layout with a 36-hole aggregate of 148 in the PLDT Group Amateur Tour event.
Park, the defending champion, returned a second straight 76 for 152, with Diego San Pedro lying another shot back after a 77 and Ramir Roque in fourth position at 154 after shooting a 78.
Former champion Rupert Zaragosa withdrew after six holes because of a left wrist injury.
Zaragosa, who held both the boys’ and men’s national championships when he was 13, was at one-under and already holding the lead after six holes before finally deciding to withdraw.
Gabriel Manotoc fired a 78 for a 155 total, while Japan’s Gen Nagai was at 157 after firing a 77.
Daniela Uy, meanwhile, remained a stroke ahead of Harmie Constantino in the girls’ division after both fired 77s. Uy has a 151 aggregate.
Bianca Pagdanganan stayed in third two strokes off the pace also after a 77, with Felicia Medalla and Abegail Arevalo both submitting second straight 78s to be five shots back like Sam Martinez, who fired a 79.
Rivani Sihotang of Indonesia was the best-placed foreigner in the girls’ division, firing a 76 for 157, with Hwang Min-jeong of Korea shooting a 75 for 158.
Samantha Bruce, who started the day just one shot behind Uy, slumped with an 83 for a 158 total in the tournament backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.
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