28-foot birdie putt gives Lam a three-way share of lead

TARLAC—James Ryan Lam birdied two of his last three holes, highlighted by a 28-footer on the 18th on Thursday to seal a five-under-par 67 to forge a three-way tie for the lead after the third round of the $100,000 Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open at well-manicured Luisita.

Lam’s last two birdies saved him from what could have been a horrendous finish, as he was coming off bogeys from 13 and 14. With a 54-hole 208, Lam will go into Friday’s final 18 holes holding on to a share of the lead with Jobim Carlos and Australia’s Jack Sullivan.

Carlos, the overnight leader, shot a 71 and Sullivan assembled a 69 even as Elmer Salvador, who took the opening round lead with a flawless 65, rebounded from a cold second round with a 69 to get back in the hunt, just a stroke off the leaders.

Joenard Rates and the United States’ Josh Salah carded 68s to be another stroke behind, with Clyde Mondilla cracking par for the second straight round to keep alive his bid for a second title in two weeks over the same picturesque layout.

Mondilla is just three strokes out of the lead despite shooting a 72 in the opening round on Tuesday.

“I’ll just play my usual game and see what happens,” Lam, winless as a pro, said of his final round game plan.