STA. Rosa, Laguna – Micah Shin proved once more why patience and resilience are priceless at The Country Club Invitational.
On a course kept in pristine condition year-round – its manicured fairways, firm approaches, and slick, true greens maintained to international standards – Shin authored another composed yet commanding performance, turning back a mid-round challenge to seize control heading into the final day of the P6.5 million championship honoring ICTSI founder Don Pocholo Razon.
READ Shin seizes TCC Invitational lead as Miguel Tabuena lurks
After seeing a once-commanding lead evaporate, he birdied four of the first six holes on the back nine, reasserting dominance and stretching his lead to four strokes following a day's best 72 for a 214 total.
Carl Corpus briefly surged to the forefront with an eagle on the par-5 10th for a running two-under card, while multiple players crowded into a five-way tussle as the course continued to offer both opportunity and peril in equal measure.
Shin's closing 33 – one better than his second-round finish that propelled him to the elad – was a rare feat under such demanding conditions and effectively separated him from the pack.
Miguel Tabuena, the 2017 champion, mounted a gritty charge of his own to secure solo second at 218 after a second straight 73. Shaking off an uncharacteristic front-nine 40, he rallied with a solid 33 at the back, highlighted by a rare birdie on the 18th – proof that he remains very much a threat for the top P2.2 million purse.
“I wasn’t hitting it as good as the first two rounds, but I tried not to lose shots and just maintain,” said Shin, fully aware that the final 18 holes demand another level. “I still need to play well tomorrow. Miguel is just four shots back.”
“My game is not quite there yet, but it’s enough to compete. I’m just really glad I have a chance coming into the last day,” said Tabuena, the Asian Tour International Series Philippines winner last year.
Behind the frontrunners, Clyde Mondilla stood at third at 220 after a roller-coaster 75, six strokes off the pace but still within striking distance on a layout where momentum can shift quickly. Corpus slipped to a share of fourth at 221 alongside two-time champion Guido van der Valk, whose bid faltered with a 76.
Jaehyun Jung carded a 77 to slip to 222, while Keanu Jahns rebounded impressively from a disastrous 78 with a 72 – matching the day’s best – for a 223. Three-time champion Angelo Que struggled to a 78 and fell back to 227, all but ending his bid for a record-breaking crown.
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