Richard Abaring ended his impressive run of under-par scores in the PGT Qualifying School with a two-over 74 but instead padded his lead to six as he zeroed in on one of the cards for next year’s Philippine Golf Tour.

Abaring, who took control of the field with a 69 and 70 start, birdied the first two holes at the back to level par but bogeyed two of the last five and wound up with a 38-36 for a 213 aggregate, now six strokes ahead of amateur Rupert Zaragosa, Efren Robles Jr. and Orlan Sumcad, who all pooled 219s.

Zaragosa, who has dominated the ranks for years, failed to a sustain a strong 69 Wednesday with a 75 for joint second with Robles, who squandered a three-under card with three bogeys in the last five for a 72, and Sumcad, who holed out with a bogey for a 73.

Francis Morilla (70), Marvin Dumandan (73) and Charles Hong (74) and another amateur Noel Langamin (73) also virtually assured themselves of spots in next year’s PGT season with identical 220s along with Cookie La’O, who assembled a 222 after a 73 for solo ninth.

The top 50 players from the surviving field of 72 will gain Category 5 status for next year’s bigger, richer PGT circuit while the rest would settle for Category 7 in the 2019 PGT starting fields.

In joint 50th with 243s are Miko Pactolerin (76), Art Arbole (77), Jesselito Zaragosa (77), Henry Bolano (78), Jessie Hernandez (79) and Danilo delos Santos (79) while a shot behind at 244 are Ricar Candinato (76) and Romeo San Jose (83).

Others in the top 15 are Jet Mathay (73-223), Chris delos Santos (72-224), Erwin Arcillas (75-224) and Joseph Suarez (77-224) along with amateur Mel Cubillo (72-226), Rey Pagunsan (77-226) and Jun Bernis (77-226).

Meanwhile, the Qualifying School for foreign players will be held on Feb. 19-22, also at Splendido Taal Golf Club.