Sumcad surges to 2-shot lead with 66

LIPA City, Batangas, Philippines – Power-hitting Orlan Sumcad pounded the Mt. Lobo nine with a five-under 31 and went on to fire a six-under 66 for a two-stroke lead over erstwhile joint leaders Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan in the second round of the P2 million ICTSI Classic here yesterday.

Sumcad used his power off the tee and superb iron play and cashed in on long birdie putts for his 31-35 card to wrest control at eight-under 136, counting his opening 70, putting him 36 holes away from finally nailing the elusive win on the country’s premier tour sponsored by ICTSI.

“My ball-striking and iron play clicked, made some long putts but missed the shorter ones,” said Sumcad, who has turned in seven top 10 finishes in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including a joint runner-up with Zanieboy Gialon in the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship last June.

He tries to stay on top and in the hunt for the top P360,000 purse as he slugs it out with Bayron and Dumandan in the featured threesome today after the Davaoeño shotmakers carded similar 71s and remained tied for the second straight day at 138.

Mars Pucay, tied with Sumcad at fourth at the start of the round, made one brief charge at Mt. Malipunyo with a 33, added another birdie on No. 1 but bogeyed two of the last seven holes and settled for another 70 for solo fourth at 140, four shots off the pace.

Clyde Mondilla, who also opened with an eagle-spiked 70, fumbled early with a double-bogey and bogey from No. 5 but fought back with three straight birdies and gunned down another on No. 14 to save a 71. He was tied at fifth at 141 with obscure Erwin Arcillas, who fired a 69.

Jhonnel Ababa and Elmer Salvador also shot 69s to tie Gialon and Charles Hong, who carded 70s, and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who matched par 72, at seventh at 142 while Rico Depilo and Cassius Casas turned in a pair of 70s, Albin Engino made a 71 and Jobim Carlos sputtered with a 73 for joint 12th at 143.

Flashing solid shots off the mound, Sumcad gunned down birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 then closed out his Mt. Lobo stint with three straight birdies to tie Bayron, who made a 34, at seven-under overall. Dumandan, starting at Mt. Malipunyo, slipped off the lead with a 37.