2005 Philippine Open - Round 2: Boonchu battles into halfway lead

Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit produced vintage golf to grab the halfway lead in the US$200,000 Philippine Open after a battling three-under-par 68 on Friday.

Boonchu, who turned 49 last week, carded five birdies against two bogeys at the par-71 Mt Malayarat Golf and Country Club for a two-day total of four-under-par 138 and leads by one stroke from overnight leader Andrew Buckle of Australia, who scrambled to a 73.

Former Philippine Open champion Felix Casas and amateur star Juvic Pagunsan, who was runner-up last year, raised local hopes by ending the day two off the pace in equal third place with Korean American Ron Won. Casas, winner here in 2001, shot a second straight 70 while Pagunsan signed for a 72 after recovering from a disastrous start.

Another former champion and Manila-based Rick Gibson of Canada moved into the title frame with a 70 to lie three behind Boonchu, who is a five-time winner in Asia with his last win being the 2004 Thai Open.

"The course is very tough here and you have to keep the ball on the fairways. If the wind picks up, it'll be hard to go low. After yesterday's round, I've learned to play conservatively as you cannot charge the putts. The greens are undulating and quick and the scores reflect this," said Boonchu, who is currently ranked 54th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Last year, Boonchu enjoyed his career finest season, finishing seventh on the money ranking with over US$220,000 in earnings. Although he has yet to replicate that success this year, with a tied eighth finish in Myanmar being his best outing, Boonchu enjoyed a winning debut in the Visa Dynasty Cup victory over Japan last month.

If Boonchu is one of Asia's old guards, the 26-year-old Pagunsan is rated as a future star. The Filipino showed his qualities yet again by overcoming a poor start of two straight bogeys and a double bogey to salvage his card. After challenging for honours last year before settling for second place, Pagunsan is looking to go one better at the weekend.

"I'm happy to be in position. It was a thrill to play with some of the Asian Tour's top pros in Adam Groom and Gary Rusnak in the first two rounds," said Pagunsan, who is bidding to become the first amateur to win the Open after the success of Chinese Taipei's Hsu Sheng-san in 1967.

Another of the Philippine's hopefuls, Angelo Que, dropped off the leaderboard after a difficult 75 which included seven bogeys and three birdies. He is tied 20th on 143, five shots back.

The Philippine Open, Asia's oldest national Championship, is the 13th leg of the 2005 Asian Tour season.

Leading second round scores
138 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-68
139 - Andrew Buckle (AUS) 66-73
140 - Felix Casas (PHI) 70-70, Juvic Pagunsan [A] (PHI) 68-72, Ron Won (USA) 69-71
141 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 71-70, Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 71-70, John Wither (SCO) 68-73, Chris Gill (ENG) 72-69, Gilberto Morales (VEN) 71-70, Darren Griff (CAN) 69-72, Jochen Lupprian (GER) 71-70
142 - Rey Pagunsan (PHI) 70-72, Bryan Saltus (USA) 68-74, Somkiet Srisanga (THA) 67-75, Arjun Singh (IND) 72-70, Chris Rodgers (ENG) 69-73, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 69-73, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 70-72
143 - Shaaban Hussein (MAS) 73-70, Danny Chia (MAS) 72-71, Angelo Que (PHI) 68-75, Chris Travers (AUS) 68-75, Adam Blyth (AUS) 68-75, Tony Lascuna (PHI) 72-71, Paul Spargo (AUS) 72-71
144 - Hisaki Takeuchi (JPN) 71-73, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 70-74, Jay Bayron [A] (PHI) 76-68, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 73-71, Hsieh Tung-shu (TPE) 71-73, Jason Dawes (AUS) 72-72, Aung Win (MYN) 73-71

May 20, 2005

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