Jahns puts buffer on field after another 68

Keanu Jahns —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Long-hitting Keanu Jahns peeled away from a tight leaderboard on Wednesday after shooting a second straight four-under-par 68 for a three-shot lead over the wily Antonio Lascuña after 36 holes of the P2-million ICTSI Pradea Verde Championship in Lubao, Pampanga.

The golf club company executive bounced back from his only bogey with three birdies in his next eight holes as he takes a 136 aggregate into the money rounds in quest of a first win this season. He won three times last year to finish second to Angelo Que in the Order of Merit race.

“My ball-striking was much better today,” Jahns said. “And I cut my bogeys down to just one after making three (on Tuesday).”

Scoring became a tad more difficult in the second round, as rain and lightning disrupted play for more than an hour. Five less players cracked par compared to the 18 on opening day, with overnight coleaders Russell Bautista and Carl Corpus shooting 73s to now be four shots back, one shot ahead of a seven-man pack that counts Que and Pinewoods champion LJ Go, who shot 72 and 69, respectively.

In the mix early

Zanieboy Gialon, the third player in that first round logjam at the top, struggled to a 74 that was marred by a double bogey on the par-3 eighth to be in the company of Que.

Ira Alido (70), Albin Engino (70), Collin Wheeler of the United States (72) and Gab Manotoc, who also matched par, are the others taking 141 aggregates into the third round on Thursday.

Lascuña put himself in the mix early with two sub-par cards, which could have been a lot better had it not been for two straight bogeys from No. 14. The 55-year-old closed out with two straight 70s in Baguio to bag a top five berth last week and is obviously itching to do better here.

Former Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla had three birdies in the back nine that offset two double bogeys coming in. He rescued a 72 and will be starting the money rounds six shots off.