BACOLOD – Zanieboy Gialon went on an early birdie-binge for a six-under 29 en route to a 65 and a three-stroke lead in the second round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Thursday.

Gialon also spoiled what could’ve been another Jobim Carlos-Kim Joo Hyung early face-off with his performance.

Carlos and Kim, who dueled for two of the three titles in the Mindanao swing of the Philippine Golf Tour last month where Gialon missed the cut in all stops, took the 1-2 posts at the close of their morning stint in another sweltering day, only to yield the spotlight in the face of Gialon’s sizzling start that netted him the lead at 132.

Also removed from the leaderboard were erstwhile joint leaders Gerald Rosales (74), Keanu Jahns (74) and Jay Bayron (75), enabling Gialon, Carlos and Kim to take the top three spots halfway through the P3.5 million event.

Gialon, who snapped a run of poor plays in Mindanao with a joint 11th finish in the Bacolod Golf Challenge at Binitin last week, rattled off six birdies in the first nine holes to move four-up over Carlos with nine holes to play. Though he slowed down at the back with three bogeys against two birdies, the Davaoeño ace kept his spot on top with an eight-under overall, moving 36 holes away from ending a year-long title spell in the circuit.