INQUIRER Sports

KUALA LUMPUR -- Michael Bibat of the Philippines mounted a brilliant comeback on the back nine to take the third-round lead in the Mercedes Benz Masters Malaysia Friday at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Bibat, the joint second-round leader, fired a three-under-par 69 to lead by a stroke from Malaysian Ben Leong, who carded his second successive 68 at the course near Kuala Lumpur.

A stroke further back was Filipino Artemio Murakami, who started the day sharing the lead and returned a 71.

Rookie professional Bibat played the front nine in one-over-par 37 but then rallied on the homeward stretch with four birdies to finish Friday on nine-under-par 207 for the tournament.

"I made a bogey on the eighth with a really loose shot and that was a bit of a wake-up call. After that I decided to knuckle down. I knew my timing wasn’t great and I wasn’t playing well but I focused on grinding out at result," said Bibat.

The 23-year-old nearly didn’t play this week because he was suffering from an inflamed and sore throat at home in Manila last week.

"It is something I often get and is probably caused by practicing in the dry heat too much and drinking cold water. It’s better now though," added Bibat.

The tall Filipino boasted an impressive amateur record before turning professional this year.

Leong birdied three out of the last four holes to raise the hopes of the Malaysian fans for victory by a local player.

Leading Third Round Scores (par-72):

207 - Michael Bibat (PHI) 67-71-69
208 - Ben Leong (MAS) 72-68-68
209 - Artemio Murakami (PHI) 71-67-71
210 - Wisut Artjawanat (THA) 68-73-69
211 - Anthony Lascuna (PHI) 67-72-72
213 - Ronnachai Jamnong (THA) 74-70-69, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 71-72-70
214 - Borworn Chaisri (THA) 71-74-69, S. Murthy (MAS) 71-71-72, Rashid Ismail (MAS) 70-70-74
215 - Airil Rizman (MAS) 71-75-69, Shaifubari Muda (MAS) 73-72-70
216 - Hanifiah Jamil (MAS) 74-73-69, Sukree Othman (MAS) 74-70-72
217 - Wittawat Sae-ung (THA) 77-73-67, Shaaban Hussein (MAS) 69-76-72, Gene Bondoc (PHI) 75-76-66