Veteran Tony Lascuna used his three-wood extensively in tackling The Country Club, a long, hazard-laden course made even tougher by gusty winds.
He had the three-wood in hand after his tee shot on the 18th left him with 225 yards to the green. His bold approach landed 12 feet off the cup, leading to a closing birdie and even-par 72 on Thursday.
On even-par 216 total, the 53-year-old warrior took a one-stroke lead over two-day leader Miguel Tabuena who faded with a bogey on the last hole for a 77.
Lascuna’s short game wizardry and mental toughness were in full display as he rallied from four shots down to grab the 54-hole lead.
“Grabe ang course. Lamang talaga dito ang long hitters pero maganda ang pitch-and-putt ko,” said Lascuna, who won here 20 years ago in what used to be the Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup.
He charged early with a monster 60-foot birdie on the second hole and a chip-in birdie on the par-3 sixth hole, two of three he made at the front against two bogeys.
Lascuna made back-to-back bogeys from 12 but responded with the finishing birdie.
He finds the course too long for his game but is making full use of his 3-wood and hybrid to keep him in contention.
“Mahaba lang talaga ang course para sa akin ngayon,” he said.
“Si Miguel malakas at mahirap talunin dito. Pero laro lang ako at mag-take advantage pag binigyan ng chance,” he said.
Tabuena did not make a single birdie while stumbling with five bogeys.
He still had the lead going into 18 but hit his approach short of the green and failed to get up and down from 15 feet.
“I putted the ball well but I wasn’t happy with the way I struck it (ball). My long game wasn’t to my standards,” rued Tabuena who bogeyed three of the last five holes.
It will be a sort of rematch for both players who fought in the final of the ICTSI TCC Match Play Invitational last November.
The 29-year-old won that one, 5 and 4.
"Tony is a great player. I did expect him to scramble out there. He's not a long-hitter but hits it straight. If he chips and putts well, he's in a good spot," Tabuena said.
“I hope to win but it will take more birdies, had zero birdies today, hopefully I get a couple tomorrow,” added Tabuena. “I’ll just stick to my game plan and hopefully, luck will be on my side.”
The rest of the field was six shots off Tabuena.
Lloyd Jefferson Go, runner-up to Guido van der Valk last year, matched Lascuña’s day-best 72 to earn a share of third at seven-over 223 with reigning PGT OOM winner Jhonnel Ababa, who carded a 75.
Clyde Mondilla bounced back from a 10-over card after eight holes with four birdies to save a 79 for a 224.
Korean-American Micah Shin, who nipped Tabuena to become the first non-Filipino winner of this event in 2018, shot a 76 join Keanu Jahns and Korean Min Seong Kim, who made 79 and 80, respectively, at sixth at 229 while van der Valk fumbled with an 81 to drop to ninth at 230.
Sean Ramos rebounded from a second round 84 with a 77 as he tied for 10th at 231 with last year’s PGT Iloilo leg runaway winner Rupert Zaragosa, who skied to an 84.
The third-round standings:
229 – Keanu Jahns 75-75-79, Kim Min Seong 70-79-80, Micah Shin 74-79-76
230 – Guido van der Valk 72-77-81
231 – Sean Jean Ramos 70-84-77, Rupert Zaragosa 73-74-84
232 – Zanieboy Gialon 75-76-81
233 – Angelo Que 73-79-81
234 – Reymon Jaraula 73-79-82
235 – Ferdie Aunzo 73-81-81
237 – Fidel Concepcion 79-81-77
238 – Marvin Dumandan 77-83-78
239 – Jay Bayron 78-79-82, Mars Pucay 78-79-82
240 – Michael Bibat
241 – Albin Engino 81-78-82, Rho Hyun Ho 77-91-73, Nilo Salahog 83-81-77
242 – Gabriel Manotoc 79-78-85
243 – Dino Villanueva 82-78-83
246 – Art Arbole 78-84-84
248 – Elmer Salvador 79-82-87
259 – Elee Bisera 83-91-85
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
