LAUREL, Batangas – Power-hitting Jaehyun Jung turned Splendido Taal Golf Club into his personal playground, delivering a brilliant eagle-spiked five-under 67 to seize a commanding four-stroke lead midway through the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

While the rest of the 112 hopefuls battled gusty winds and the challenges of the rolling par-72 layout, Jung showcased his superior power, iron play and putting. His near-flawless execution, particularly on the three par-5s, positioned him as the leader at six-under 138.

After an opening-round 71 that left him tied for third with Carl Corpus and Atsushi Ueda, two strokes behind Ji Sung Cheon, Jung set the course ablaze early. He eagled the par-5 No. 2 and followed up with three straight birdies from No. 5. He continued his dominance by capitalizing on the long holes, birdieing Nos. 9 and 11.

Just when he thought he had the course all figured out, it struck back, forcing him into back-to-back bogeys from No. 13. He steadied himself thereafter, parring the remaining holes to finish with a 30-37 for a six-under 138 total, including his opening-round 71.

Despite the late stumble, he claimed a four-stroke lead over Cheon, who stumbled at the finish, bogeying two of the last three holes for a 73 and a 142.

Corpus birdied the first two holes and gained more strokes on Nos. 10 and 12 to offset bogeys on Nos. 5, 7, 13 and 15 as he posted a 72 and a 36-hole aggregate of 143 for solo third, five strokes off the pace.

“It was a strange day. The wind in the morning was much harder, swirling unpredictably. I had to play conservatively and constantly check the wind, even at the last-minute,” said Corpus, who emerged as the best-placed Filipino contender.

Ivan Monsalve, who had impressed with a 70 in the first round, struggled with a 79, dropping from joint second to provisional 13th at 149.

Despite the setback, he remains within the Top 60 and ties, ensuring a place in the final two rounds of the elims organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., which will determine the 30 players who earn PGT tour cards for the season opener at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga next week.

Local amateur Jhondie Quibol posted a 74 for a clubhouse share of seventh at 147 alongside Ueda, who stumbled to a 76. Chris delos Santos rebounded with a 71, securing a spot in the final 36 holes at 148, tied for ninth with former two-time Q-School winner Toru Nakajima, who also shot a 72.

Paul Echavez and Gab Manotoc, who each shot 73s, and Kota Fukuyama, who fell back with a 75, tied Monsalve at 13th place.

Other local hopefuls who completed 36 holes include Rey Pagunsan (77-150), Angelo Anzuris (74-152), Emilio Panimdim, Jr. (75-153), Anthony Fernando (79-154), Godofredo Sinfuego (76-154), Airon Sorino (74-154), GJ Katigbak (81-155), James Ryan Lam (78-155), John Michael Uy (78-155), amateur Paolo Wong (76-155), Danilo delos Santos (79-156), Christopher Popp (74-156), and Kuresh Samanodi (73-156).

The projected cut is currently set at 13-over 157.