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MANILA: Local pride Angelo Que, confident after
earning a spot at the British Open qualifiers next week, shot a
6-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead after the third round of the
Philippine Open.
Que battled challenging
conditions at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club for a 6-under-par
210 total.
Overnight leader Kodai Ichihara
of Japan stumbled to a 75 and slid to lone second position.
Australia’s Gavin Flint posted
a similar score to lie in third place, two off the lead, while
Filipino Antonio Lascuna and South Korea’s Young Nam carded
matching 72s to land in a tie for fourth spot in the $300,000 Asian
Tour event.
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat
remained in contention after a steady 68, also in joint fourth
place, and three strokes off the pace.
Making the right adjustments to
his swing this year, the 29-year-old Que was pleased to set the pace
heading into the final round as he hopes to emulate his winning
performance at the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam in 2004.
“I had a great start and was
5-under after five holes. I struck an eagle at the fourth hole,
which was nice,” said Que, who shot an eagle and six birdies
against two dropped shots.
“I’m not going to get too
excited as this course can be brutal if you make mistakes. But
making it through the British Open qualifiers has definitely given
me a boost and helped lift my game,” added Que.
Japan’s Ichihara endured a
tough day at the office, firing two birdies against three bogeys and
a double bogey.
“I felt the pressure playing in
the last group today. But I know how it feels like now and I will
try to be relaxed tomorrow.”
Flint, gunning for his maiden
title on the Asian Tour, hung on to third place after his 75.
Defending champion Frankie Minoza
improved with a 71 and rose to a tie for 21st spot with a 219 total
while Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang fell victim to the treacherous 17th
hole and slipped to joint 26th place after an 80.
--AFP
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