Ramos wrests lead after bogey-free 66
Young Sean Ramos fired a flawless six-under-par 66 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead in the P2.5-million ICTSI Lakewood Championship in Nueva Ecija, and for him to seal the deal, he’ll have to go through the veritable gold standard of the Philippine Golf Tour in the final round.
That means thwarting the most experienced, winningest player in the field in Antonio Lascuña, the wily veteran seeking a 54th career title who had a string of three bogeys to open the second nine and a missed four-footer for birdie which could have given him a share of the lead.
“I’ll focus on hitting fairways and greens and aim to avoid bogeys. Par is always a good score,” the 20-year-old Ramos said of his final round plans where Lascuña, after settling for a 68, has one of the most glittering records on tour.
“I’ve been in these situations before,” Lascuña said in Filipino as he put behind what he considers a woeful third round. “I will just stick to what I know works for me.”
Lascuña had an eagle-spiked 32 for his first nine holes, only to drop shots in each of his next three. He steadied the ship with three straight birdies from No. 13 before ruing that short putt on the closing hole which could have tied it.
Three other players are within four shots of the pace, with Reymon Jaraula shooting a 68 to be two shots behind and Japan’s Ozeki Kakeru and Albin Engino, who also carved out 68s, trailing by three and four shots in that order.
Meanwhile, pro-bound South Korean teen Ji Won Lee turned back Chihiro Ikeda in the second playoff hole to win the 54-hole ladies championship. Ikeda actually caught Lee at the top at the end of regulation after a closing 70 for 210. Lee submitted a level 72.INQ
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