DAVAO—Veterans Elmer Salvador and Mars Pucay, winless for years in the ICTSI Tour, fired three-under-par 69s on Friday to forge a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round of what has been an intensely-fought Apo Golf Invitational here.
The duo drained five birdies each over the tree-lined layout to amass a 54-hole 212 and tie overnight leader Jobim Carlos, who struggled to a 73, and the steady Nilo Salahog, who returned a second straight 72.
Reigning Masters champion Jessie Balasabas led a five-player group lurking a shot back after shooting another 70 with American Lexus Keoninh firing a 71 to be another stroke behind like rookie Ira Alido, who shot a day-best 66.
Carlos failed to crack par for the first time this week, blaming poor ball struggling and his struggles on the greens.
“My ball striking and putting were no good,” said Carlos, who broke through individually as a pro three weeks ago at Riviera.
Pucay, the 48-year-old who is contemplating on trying his luck in the PGA Tour Champions in two years, believes that anyone going under-par would more or less have an inside track at winning.
“With this kind of condition, eight overall could win the championship,” said Pucay, whose last win came four years ago in The Players Championship at tricky Southlinks.
Four behind Carlos at the start of the day, the soft-spoken Salvador drained three birdies at the front before picking up shots on 15 and 18 to make up for bogeys on 10 and 11.
Keanu Jahns made the biggest move, charging back from the bottom half of the surviving 46-player field with an eagle-spiked 68 to be in the group of Balasabas, the fancied Jhonnel Ababa, Ramil Bisera and diminutive Joenard Rates.