CARMONA, Cavite—Scrambling splendidly and attacking when he had the chance, Chinese star Liang Wenchong yesterday fired a five-under-par 67 to grab a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the $750,000 Resorts World Manila Masters.
The 35-year-old, revered in China the way Frankie Miñoza is in the Philippines, missed eight greens but dropped just one shot that went with six birdies on a truly windy day as Liang moved in position towards winning for the first time in the Asian Tour since 2008.
“I am very happy where I am now,” Liang said through an interpreter. “It’s just a one stroke lead, anything can still happen tomorrow (today in the final round).”
American David Lipsky shot a second straight 69 to catch Malaysian Nicholas Fung in second at 204, even as Filipino ace Angelo Que, who started the day tied for the lead with two foreigners, struggled on the very course where he honed his skills as an amateur to shoot a 74 and be four back.
Himmat Rai of India was at 205 like 17-year-old Thai phenom Jazz Janewattanond, who had the lead—or at least a share of it after two rounds. Rai shot a 68, while Janewattanond matched par as the duo ended the day a stroke up on SSP Chowrasia of India and Sutijet Kooratanipasan of Thailand.
Chowrasia fired a 69, while the Thai assembled a 68. Nine others are lodged with Que at 207, making it a wide-open title race in today’s final 18 holes.
Chucky Hong, who teed off just two shots off the pace, ballooned to a 75 and virtually dropped out of contention at 211.
“It’s going to be an exciting day tomorrow,” Liang, the first Chinese to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title, said.
Fung, the reigning OOM champion of the Asean Development Tour, had eight pars and a bogey in his first nine holes before catching fire coming home with all four of his birdies for the day. His second bogey came on the par-3 13th where he missed the green.
Que had a level card going into his final eight holes before he encountered trouble on the par-4 11th where he signed for a double bogey. He dropped another shot two holes later before closing out with a birdie on the 18th.
Still, a four-stroke deficit can be overcome in a course like this, more so since Que knows all the bumps and breaks of the Jack Nicklaus-designed gem.
Lipsky, the 25-year-old who has made only three cuts this season, is seeking a second win on Tour after triumphing in Cambodia. He could have ended the day tied for the lead had it not been for a bogey on the 18th.
Chris Rodgers, the veteran Englishman who was a shot off the three-man lead after the second round, also skied to a 75 and is also in a huge group at 209 like Rey Pagunsan who fired a 69.
Richard Lee, the Canadian rookie who shared the second round lead with Que and Janewattanond, shot a horrid 76 to be in the company of Pagunsan and Rodgers.
The leading scores: (Filipino unless stated) 203—Liang W (CHN) 67-69-67; 204—D. Lipsky (USA) 66-69-69, N. Fung (MAL) 70-64-70; 205—H. Rai (IND) 68-69-68, J. Janewattanond (THA) 64-69-72; 206—S. Kooratanapisan (THA) 67-71-68, SSP Chowrasia (IND) 71-66-69; 207—A. Que 67-66-74, M. Steiger (AUS) 68-73-68, T. Chuayprakong (THA) 66-73-68, D. Lutterus (AUS) 68-70-69, J. Makitalo (FIN) 69-68-70, Hung CY (TWN) 68-68-71, S. Lewton (ENG) 70-66-71, M. Perera (SRI) 69-67-71, A. Da Silva (BRA) 68-67-72, P. Meesawat (THA) 67-67-73; 208—Mo JK (KOR) 71-68-69, P. Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68-70-70, A. Kang (USA) 67-71-70, Lam CB (SIN) 67-70-72, T. Wiratchant (THA) 69-68-71, C. Pigem (ESP) 68-66-74; 209—R. Pagunsan 71-69-69, Wang JH (KOR) 67-74-68, C. Rodgers (ENG) 68-66-75, R. Lee (CAN) 65-68-76