JOBIM Carlos wielded hot putter in another scorching day in Tarlac, shooting a bogey-free 67 and overhauling Elmer Salvador’s overnight three-stroke lead to seize control in the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open.
Carlos hit five birdies inside 12 feet despite to surge ahead of the pack at nine-under 135.
“I played steady throughout and my putting was good,” said Carlos, who actually missed hiking his lead to three with a muffed eight-foot birdie putt on his closing hole at the par-5 ninth.
Carlos stood two strokes ahead of Jack Sullivan, who who also shot five under.
Salvador lost his touch off the mound and on the green, slipping with a 73.
Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng fired a 67 to join Salvador at 138 heading to the final 36 holes of the US$100,000 (around P5.3 million) event serving as the sixth leg of the second season of the PGA Asia put up by ICTSI.
Jhonnel Ababa made it a three-way tie for third, hitting a pitch-in eagle on No. 7 and a birdie on the ninth for a 70.
Korean-American Seungjae Maeng also hit an eagle in a 68 to join Keanu Jahns, James Ryan Lam and Macedonia’s Peter Stojanovski at sixth at 139.
Pete Vilairatana of the US carded a 69 to tie Joenard Rates (70), compatriot Josh Salah (71) and Aussie Tim Stewart (72) at ninth with 140s, five shots behind Carlos.
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