MANILA, February 10, 2012 (AFP) - Singaporean swinger Mardan Mamat produced a masterful two-under-par 70 in tough conditions to open up a three-shot halfway lead after the second round of the $300,000 ICTSI Philippine Open on Friday.
Chasing a third Asian Tour victory the veteran notched a two-day total of five under-par 139 with two birdies against no bogeys to lead American Ben Fox and local hopes Antonio Lascuna and Ferdinand Aunzo.
Lascuna battled to a 71, Aunzo shot a 70 while Fox scrambled to a 73 in Asia's oldest national championship to lie on 142.
Coming off a low-key season in 2011, Mamat, whose last Asian tour victory was in 2006, broke away from a packed leaderboard with easy birdies on the fifth and 10th holes.
"Going into the last three holes, I told myself that it would be a bonus if I could stay bogey free and I managed to do it. The winds were more, it's swirling a lot. I was pretty much in control of my swing," said Mamat.
The 44-year-old finished 57th on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit last season, his lowest position since 1998, despite enjoying one runner-up finish. "Last year was a nightmare. I played too much golf and I didn't know what I was doing. I'm going to take it one step at a time.
"I hope I will stay happy for the next two days. I like the way I'm playing," he said.
The 41-year-old Lascuna has won multiple titles on his domestic tour but is still dreaming of the big one on the Asian Tour, and a win on Sunday in his home Open would be particularly special.
After three birdies against two bogeys in his morning round he was happy with his performance so far.
"My driving is okay and I putted good. Even par or one under is a good score," he said.
"I think I have a chance. I'll just enjoy the game. It's exciting... I need a couple of two under par rounds over the weekend."
Leading scores (par 72):
139 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-70
142 - Ferdinand Aunzo (PHI) 72-70, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 71-71, Ben Fox (USA) 69-73
143 - Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 71-72, Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 72-71, Paul Donahoo (AUS) 71-72, Lu Tze-shyan (TPE) 69-74, Adam Blyth (AUS) 73-70, Sam Cyr (USA) 71-72
144 - Anthony Kang (USA) 69-75, Danny Chia (MAS) 75-69, Mars Pucay (PHI) 70-74, Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 70-74, Azuma Yano (JPN) 69-75, Marcus Both (AUS) 72-72
145 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 73-72, Thammanoon Sriroj (THA) 72-73, Masanori Kobayashi (JPN) 75-70, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 70-75, Elmer Salvador (PHI) 72-73, Javi Colomo (ESP) 75-70, Arnond Vongvanij (THA) 73-72, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 75-70