CAVINTI, Laguna — Carl Corpus rose to the occasion on Wednesday, showcasing the composure of a seasoned pro as he edged ahead of veteran Angelo Que to seize the solo lead midway through the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship.

Though they weren’t in the same flight, all eyes were on the Corpus-Que duel. And it was the 21-year-old Corpus who blinked last — carding a two-under-par 69 for a nine-under total of 135, one shot clear of a tight chasing pack.

After an up-and-down front nine, Corpus found his rhythm on the back.

He birdied Nos. 12 and 15 and closed with three straight pars under gloomy skies, a finish that mirrored the same grit he showed in his breakthrough win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in Morocco last June.

“I struck the ball better yesterday,” said Corpus, who opened with a 66 to share the first-round lead with Que. “Today, I just tried to stay steady. I had a few misses, but I told myself not to dwell on them. I focused on making a strong finish.”

The strategy paid off. Despite early bogeys on Nos. 4 and 6, he stayed mentally sharp and drained the putts that mattered.

Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, actually played better tee-to-green than he did in the first round — but couldn’t buy a putt.

A closing bogey on the 18th, after an errant drive and overshot approach, summed up a frustrating day with the flatstick.

Sharing second with Que are two players who made big moves: Jhonnel Ababa and Ji Sung Cheon.

Ababa, the 2017 PGT Order of Merit champion, rebounded from an early bogey to card a five-under 67, highlighted by a tap-in eagle on the par-5 12th, where he unleashed a perfect 3-wood from 230 yards after a booming drive.

Cheon, just 19, also eagled No. 12 — using a hybrid from 228 yards to set up a monster 35-foot putt.

He added five birdies against one bogey for a 66, his best round yet in Philippine soil.

But the leaderboard remains packed. Four players sit just two shots back at 137: young Kristoffer Arevalo, veterans Keanu Jahns and Rupert Zaragosa, and Australia-based Filipino Fidel Concepcion.

Arevalo made a solid move with a 32 on the back nine but lost steam late to settle for a 69. Jahns caught fire with a 67 featuring five birdies and an eagle.

Zaragosa remained bogey-free through 36 holes with a clean 68, while Concepcion had been spotless until a late bogey on 18 saw him post a 69.

Veteran Jay Bayron stayed within striking distance at 138 after a second-round 70, while Aidric Chan — still riding high from his victory in Morocco — shot a 68 to grab solo 10th at 139.