Avena closes in on crown with 72

Abe Avena blew a two-under card in the early going but still pulled away by eight despite a 72 as his rivals sputtered in the second round of the 2016 Philippine Senior and Mid-Amateur Open Championship at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas on Thursday.

Avena, who took charge by four over Rolly Viray with an opening 70 Wednesday, looked headed for another under-par card at the par-72 layout as he birdied the first two par-5s on Nos. 3 and 5. But he fumbled with a double-bogey on the par-4 seventh and mixed two birdies against the same number of bogeys at the back for a pair of 36s.