Lumbo hangs tough in the elements, keeps South Pacific pace by two
Rookie Jeff Lumbo drained four birdies in a two-under-par 70 under a slight drizzle on Wednesday to stay atop the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic leaderboard with a host of dangerous pursuers lurking at the halfway mark of the P3.5-million event in Davao.
The 28-year-old from Sarangani used a hot four-hole stretch bridging the two nines to take a 137 aggregate into the third round as he tries to continue holding off the likes of Ryan Monsalve and Russell Bautista, who shot 68s to be two and three shots back, respectively.
A lot of the big guns continued to struggle over the tricky greens of the wide-open layout, with only Angelo Que making a big move after a 67 put him six shots behind in a group that also has Marvin Dumandan and Keanu Jahns, who both signed for 72s.
“The conditions were difficult, especially the pin placements,” Lumbo, whose two bogeys came from a three-putt on No. 6 and a wayward tee shot on the par-3 15th, where he failed to rescue par from six feet, said in Filipino.
Fidel Concepcion, the champion last week at nearby Apo Golf, skied to a 75 to now be nine shots behind, with Clyde Mondilla shooting a 72 to be another shot back. Jonel Ababa, who started the day just three shots off the pace, ballooned to a 78 to now be 11 behind.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ababa took control of the P1 million, 54-hole ladies side of the event after firing a 71, moving another good round away from sealing a second title in the last three weeks.
Counting a first round 69, Ababa, whose two bogeys came off three-putts on the 14th and 16th greens, holds a one-shot lead over Florence Bisera, who caught Chanelle Avaricio at second after firing a 70. Avaricio, who dethroned Ababa last week as the Apo Golf champion, struggled to a 73.
