Ababa leads Salvador by 2

GEN. TRIAS, CAVITE—Unruffled by the wind, Jhonnel Ababa carded a two-under-par 70 on Friday and posted a two-stroke lead over Elmer Salvador, who crumbled in the homestretch of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational third round in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

While Ababa came through with a third straight birdie on No. 12 and a tap-in birdie on No. 16, Salvador blew a three-shot lead after 10 holes following bogeys on Nos. 12, 17 and 18 and settled for a second straight 72 at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course.

The Davaoeños, who shared the halfway mark lead of the $100,000 event, thus parted ways, with Ababa pooling a 209 and moving closer toward joining the all-Filipino winners of the inaugural Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

“The wind was strong and blowing from all direction so I just played it through and went for pars,” said Ababa, who narrowly missed an eagle on the 16th.

In contrast, Salvador, after going three-under with birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 10, lost his putting touch, dropping to second at 211 following the twin missed green bogeys,

“My putting went off at the back and it was tough out there with the strong wind,” said Salvador.

Joenard Rates fired a 71 and climbed to third spot at 213, four shots off Ababa.

Charles Hong and Keanu Jahns both carded 75s for joint fourth at 217.