Carlos widens PH Am lead with bogey-free 66

PRO-BOUND Jobim Carlos all but put away a second Philippine Amateur Stroke Play championship after shooting a flawless six-under-par 66 that left the talented field eating his dust at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki layout in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Carlos smoked the treacherous front nine with a 31 and then gunned down his sixth birdie with a 6-foot putt on the par-5 16th hole for a 54-hole total of 207 and a 10-shot lead over Japanese expatriate Gen Nagai, who fired a 69.

“My putter got so hot in the front nine,” the 21-year-old Carlos said after picking up a shot on the ninth from 25 feet. “I didn’t drive it well all day. My putting saved me.”

South Korea’s Jan Kung-ha scrambled for a 73 to be 13 shots adrift, with Aidric Chan and Carlo Villaroman shooting level 72s to be at 225—all still in the hunt for a top-three finish.

Many-time winner Rupert Zaragosa failed yet again to end his struggles and shot a 77 to be 21 strokes behind. His form so far was his worst in the tournament he used to rule with an iron fist.

“I will just keep the ball in play,” said Carlos when asked about his game plan for today’s final round.

“I will still play conservatively and see what happens.”

Harmie Constantino also remained in firm control in women’s play after shooting a 71 for an eight-shot lead over Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso and Korea’s Lee Ji-hyeon, who fired a 71 and 73, respectively.

Constantino had three birdies against two bogeys in a 36-35 round, enough to preserve her overnight lead over the Korean. Musong R. Castillo