TRECE Martirez, Cavite—Elmer Salvador fired a two-under-par 70 yesterday and saw his lead cut to just four by new pursuer Cassius Casas heading into the final round of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Challenge here.
Salvador had six birdies against four bogeys for a 207 total in his quest to win this event for the second straight year.
Casas, a former Philippine Open winner like Salvador, birdied three of his last four holes for a 68 and vaulted into contention at 211, with Antonio Lascuña another shot back after a 69 in the Tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Jun Bernis (69), Chucky Hong (72) and the veteran Jay Bayron (74) are tied at even 216.
“I will try to play the way I have played the course in the first three days,” Salvador said in Filipino. “No lead is safe against the likes of Cassius and Lascuña. I need to play well.”
Teen prodigy Miguel Tabuena withdrew because of the flu at the start of the round. The Splendido leg winner in Tagaytay had shot 72 and 71 in the first two rounds.
Casas put himself in contention for the first time in two years since winning the Del Monte leg in Bukidnon when Salvador, Juvic Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego were disqualified because of a final-hole infraction.
“It’s a big deficit, but it’s not impossible (to overhaul), Casas said. “With some luck, who knows?”
Salvador, five clear of the field overnight, actually started hot with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 only to sign for his fourth bogey on No. 14 after failing to rescue par from eight feet.
He scored parred the 15th, the hole where he signed for the first albatross on the ICTSI Tour on Wednesday, before birdieing the next two to stay under par for the third straight day of the tournament being backed by Sharp, Nike Golf, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers and FootJoy.
The leading scores:
207—E. Salvador 66-71-70; 211—C. Casas 74-69-68; 212—A. Lascuña 72-71-69; 216—J. Bernis 79-68-69, C. Hong 73-71-72, J. Bayron 68-74-74; 217—J. Rates 78-71-68; 218—LJ Go (Am) 75-72-71; 219—Z. Gialon 71-71-77; 220—M. Fernando 76-75-69, R. Sasutil 76-74-70, M. Dumandan 74-75-71, C. Villaroman 73-74-73, J. Abdon (Am) 72-73-75; 221—R. Bayron 74-71-76; 222—R. Abaring 75-78-69, N. Catalan 73-78-71, G. Rosales 79-72-71, B. Magada 71-78-73.