Vintage Boonchu charges into 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 yesterday.

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 led 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, 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. I've learned to play conservatively as you cannot charge the putts,' said Boonchu.