STEVE Lewton maintained a two-stroke lead, hitting an eagle and carding a 71 in the rain-hit third round of the Solaire Philippine Open on Saturday at The Country Club in Laguna.
A solid 5-iron second shot from 230 yards in the rain and a putt from nine feet for eagle on the par-5 No. 8 highlighted Lewton’s round as he survived another punishing day for a 212 aggregate.
Johannes Veermanwas of the US in second at 214 after a 71, while Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan carded a 72 to move to third at 215.
“I played good under the rain. If I shoot under-par again tomorrow, I will be very pleased. But you’ll never know,” said Lewton, winner of the Asian Tour’s Taiwan Masters in 2014.
Tony Lascuña had a third straight 72 after suffering final-hole bogey and stood four shots behind at 216 heading to the final day of the $400,000 event offering $72,000 (around P3.6 million) to the champion.
“Even par but it’s okay. I still like my chances despite missing a couple of birdie putts,” said Lascuña. “Patay na kung patay sa final round.”
Former Solaire Open champion Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan carded a 73 for solo fifth at 217.
Miguel Tabuena, winner of the TCC Invitational three weeks ago, shot a 75 and was in joint sixth at 218, six shots off the pace.
Brett Munson shot a 71 and Will Cannon carded a 73 to tie Tabuena at 218.
Blake Snyder, also of the US, carded a 72 for a share of ninth at 219 with Frenchman Lionel Weber, who shot a 73, Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach, who both made 74s.
First-round leader John Catlin struggled to an 83 for a 226.
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