TARLAC—Playing with a nothing-to-lose mentality, Lindsay Renolds bounced back from his first bogey of the week with a flurry and moved closer to winning the biggest title of his career.
The well-built Canadian dropped his first shot on No. 1 yesterday but birdied five of his next 11 for a four-under-par 68 and remain atop the 98th Philippine Open leaderboard, with local hope Miguel Tabuena now two strokes behind at soggy Luisita here.
Needing no less than a win to stay on the Asian Tour next year, Renolds, who now calls Thailand home, will take a 134 tally into today’s final 18 holes, where tournament officials will decide whether to order play using summer rules after lift-clean-and-place has been in effect the first two days.
Australian veteran Scott Barr is now Renolds’ closest pursuer, shooting a 66 in another windy day with Tabuena assembling a 69 to be two shots behind like three others in the $300,000 event many in the field—like Renolds—are using to secure berths for next season.
And Barr is one of them.
Barr drained a 15-foot putt for eagle on No. 5 and played the first nine in 30, while Tabuena signed for a 34 at the turn after his own eagle 5 on the ninth for 136 like Finn Kalle Samooja, Giganjeet Bhullar of India and Kim Giw-han of South Korea, who returned 67, 69 and 68, respectively.
“It’s exciting to be in this position. My game feels good and I feel good,” Renolds, who was flawless in opening up with a 66 on Friday, said. “I am not really worried or nervous. We will see what tomorrow brings. It will be just another round of golf for me.
“It’s a game which you win or lose and obviously, there’s a lot on the line for me,” Renolds continued. “If I play good [in the final round today], then things will work out the way they should.”
Charles Hong and the long-hitting Orlan Sumcad vaulted inside the top 20 with a 68 and 67, in that order, for 139s to tie the popular Juvic Pagunsan, who slowed down with a 71 in the event presented by ICTSI and backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT, MPIC, Amon Trading, Central Azucarera de Tarlac and Ayala Land.
“Obviously, this is a good week, and I am pleased,” said Barr, who is at 64th in the Order of Merit.
Defending champion Marcus Both of Australia would most likely be going through Q School next year, failing to gain ground despite a 70 to be eight shots behind even as 2013 champion Mardan Mamat of Singapore shot a 71 to be in Pagunsan’s group.
“I have to be patient as possible tomorrow,” Tabuena, who chipped in from the fringe from about 10 feet for his eagle, said. “I have been in this position (winning the Open) before and I know I can come out on top this time.”
A total of 13 Filipinos, counting unknown Johnrey Pactolerin, made it to today’s final round. Pactolerin, a nephew of former champion Robert, shot a 74 for 142.
The cut was pegged at a level 144 with the biggest casualties being former OOM champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand (70-145), Cassius Casas (74-146) and Robert Pactolerin (79-154).
The leading scores (Filipino unless stated): 134—L. Renolds (CAN) 66-68; 135—S. Barr (AUS) 69-66; 136—K. Samooja (FIN) 69-67, M. Tabuena 67-69, GW Kim (KOR) 68-68, G. Bhullar (IND) 67-69; 137—K. Horne (RSA) 69-68, K. Joshi (IND) 70-67, C. Phadungsil (THA) 67-70, N. Turner (IRL) 69-68, Wang JH (KOR) 67-70; 138—S. Griffiths (ENG) 70-68, T. Kaewsribandit (THA) 68-70; 139—M. Mamat (SIN) 68-71, C. Wi (KOR) 70-69, C. Hong 71-68, J. Kaske (FIN) 71-68, A. Groom (AUS) 70-69, J. Pagunsan 68-71, B. Munson (USA) 70-69, O. Sumcad 72-67, GK Yang (SIN) 70-69