With four birdies in her last six holes on Thursday, an amateur is still in command of the ICTSI Manila Golf Classic.
But it’s not Yuka Saso.
Chinese Taipei’s Tzu-Yi Chang fired a six-under-par 65 on another sweltering day to knock the fancied Saso out of the lead heading into the final 18 holes of the $100,000 event.
Counting an opening 72 on Wednesday, Chang takes a 137 into the last round Friday and a one-shot lead over Saso, the reigning Asian Games gold medalist who is highly favored to win.
Saso had two birdies against the same number of bogeys in a 71 and dropped into a tie with Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who cracked par for the second straight round with a 68.
Japan’s Mina Nakayama fired a 69 to be at 140, even as Pauline del Rosario barely clung to the Top 10 after a 72 for 143, six shots off and needing a really low round to matter in the final day.
Princess Superal struggled yet again over a course that suits her game, firing a 72 to be nine behind.