John Kier Abdon continued to defy the “no-driver” rule that has been the norm at Southlinks and got amply rewarded by it, grabbing a two-stroke lead with a gutsy two-under 70 as Rufino Bayron and Rolando Marabe stumbled with over-par scores halfway through the rich ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship in Las Piñas yesterday.

While the rest opted to play the tight par-72 layout the conservative way, Abdon attacked it with his driver for the second straight day, missing just two fairways in an impressive show of control and confidence, netting him a second straight under-par card, including five birdies that highlighted his 36-34 that shoved him on top at five-under 139.

Mars Pucay carded a bogey-free 68 and joined Mhark Fernando, shooting a 71, and James Ryan Lam, matching par 72, at second at 141 while ICTSI Cangolf leg winner Clyde Mondilla stayed in hunt for another crown despite a 73 as he pooled a 142 for joint fifth with Elmer Saban, who rallied with a 70.

Title-hungry Ferdie Aunzo shot a second 72 for solo seventh at 144 while Marabe, flawless in the opening round with a 68, never recovered from a double-bogey mishap on No. 4, finishing with two more double-bogeys and two bogeys against three birdies for a five-over 77. He dropped to joint eighth at 145 with Orlan Sumcad (69), Dutch Guido Van der Valk (74), Jun Rates (74) and Korean Gyuha Park (72).

Bayron, who took charge in the first round with a 67 despite a last-hole double-bogey, made a triple-bogey on No. 18 this time and wound up with a 42 and 79, tumbling down from first to a share of 13th at 146. Other two-over par total scorers were Micah Shin (70), Edward Reyes (76), Robert Pactolerin (73), Michael Bibat (73) and Rico Depilo (77).

“I didn’t get scared by the tightness of the course because I believe I can put my tee shots on the fairway,” said Abdon, a rookie pro who has had a number of forgettable finishes heading to this P3.5 million event, the final leg of the 16-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

He did pay the price on his finishing hole on No. 9 where he sliced it and had to play out before holing out with a second straight bogey.

“It’s been a steady round and I play the same routine – hit my drive into the fairway,” said the 23-year-old Abdon, who birdied two of the first four holes at the back where he teed off. He hit an “unlucky” drive on the par-5 No. 14 that kicked left and rolled into a steep bunker and missed an eight-footer for par.

Abdon, who ended up joint 28th at ICTSI Cangolf last month, missed the cut at ICTSI Summit and wound up tied at 32nd at ICTSI Northwoods, birdied the tough par-5 18th, three-putted No. 3 for bogey but birdied Nos. 4 and 6 from close range.

But the former SEA Games campaigner will be tested in today’s crucial third round where he will be paired with veteran Mars Pucay and Mhark Fernando, who moved into contention at 141, along with James Ryan Lam, using 3-woods and 5-woods off the mound.

Pucay, out to snap a long title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., parred the first 11 holes, including two scrambling pars on Nos. 1 and 9 then strung up four straight birdies inside five feet from No. 12 before holing out with three pars to turn in a bogey-free 68.

“I kind of played conservatively in the first round,” said Pucay, who struggled with a 73 in the opener of the 72-hole championship backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp, KZG and Rudy Project. “But I got a little aggressive in the second round with my 3-wood. It’s important to put your drive in the fairway here because I think this is the toughest course to hit your tee shots.”

Pucay did use his driver, once on No. 6, which he said has a relatively open fairway but the veteran Asian Tour campaigner only gained momentum late in the round when he rattled off four birdies in row inside five feet.

Fernando had a quiet one-under 71 that featured three birdies against two bogeys but still put himself into contention for the top P650,000 purse without using his driver after 36 holes.

“You have to be confident with your tee shot here since one mistake could lead to losing two strokes,” said Fernando, the former national champion seeking to end a year-long drought. “But I think this will go down to a putting contest in the end.”

Lam bounced back from an opening 37 with three birdies against a bogey after eight holes at the back but missed grabbing solo second with a bogey on the 18th.

Forty-one players made the cut at 155 with Jhonnel Ababa missing the last 36 holes with a 156 after an 80 while Arnold Villacencio, winner at ICTSI Summit, turning in an 85 for an atrocious 19-over 163.

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