Sean Ramos and Jet Hernandez struggled at flat but tough layout, carding identical three-over 74s to seize a one-stroke over Josh Jorge and Masaichi Otake while Bernice Olivarez-Ilas and Korean Kim Seo Yun forged ahead in women’s play with 69s at the start of the NGAP Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship at the Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga yesterday.

Seeking a second straight championship after a wire-to-wire triumph in the Canlubang Amateur Open last week, Ramos missed grabbing the solo lead with a shaky finish that saw him bogey two of the last three holes for a pair of 37s.

Hernandez actually turned in a better start of 35 and birdied the 10th to post an even-par card. But he bogeyed three of the last eight to settle for joint lead with Ramos.

But Jorge and Otake stood just a stroke behind at 75, guaranteeing a spirited battle for the championship in the last 36 holes over a bunker-laden course that puts premium on accuracy and putting.

Ilas and Kim also poised themselves for a fierce showdown for the women’s crown in the 54-hole championship serving as part of the PLDT Group’s National Amateur Golf Tour organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines with the former, who won a pro event here in 2016, pouncing on Kim’s backside meltdown to stay ahead.

Kim threatened to blow the field away with a four-birdie feat for a sizzling 30 at the front. But she lost steam and momentum at the back, fumbling with a bogey and a double bogey and needing to birdie the last to match Ilas’ output.

Laurea Duque groped for a 73 for third while Rianne Malixi, Kristine Fleetwood and Weifang Gao carded 75, 78 and 80, respectively, in the Elite Amateur division of the event backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal, Metro Pacific and hosted by Beverly Place Golf Club.

Joaquin Gomez actually came up with the best frontside score of 34 but he crumbled with a closing 46 and tumbled to fifth with an 80 followed by Weiyu Gao (83) and David Guangko, Francis Lanuza and Rald Sarmiento, who all had 84s.

Meanwhile, action in the 36-hole Group I (5-12 handicap) and Group II (13 and above) in men’s division, both gross stroke and net competitions, starts today.