RYAN Monsalve gutted out a level par 72 yesterday to wrest the lead going into today’s final round of the Philippine Amateur Open junior stroke play championship at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.
The well-built Monsalve, a former Southwoods club champion, now has a 218 aggregate, three ahead of South Korea’s Tom Kim from three back at the start of the day as the two-round leader shot himself in the foot with a 78.
Lanky Lanz Uy, who saw action for Luisita in the PAL Interclub won by Southwoods in Pampanga last month, fired a 74 and caught Ira Alido in a tie for third spot at 228. Alido ballooned to an 81.
Yuka Saso, meanwhile, kept a firm grip of the girls’ lead after also returning a 72, leading reigning women’s champion Harmie Constantino by three shots with a 211 total.
Constantino matched Saso’s round in humid conditions and stayed in the hunt for a second national title this season at 214.
Hwang Min-jeong, a Korean who won a leg in the professional Ladies ICTSI Tour, practically bombed out of the fight after managing a 76 for 224, with Mikha Fortuna another stroke behind after a 78.
Rupert Zaragosa all but wrapped up the special 18-and-over division after shooting a 76 for 223, six shots ahead of Airon Sorino, who returned a 75. Musong R. Castillo