As Sokor keeps lead, fight for last slots hits fever pitch
South Korea’s Lee Song.
Eight players are tied for the last five spots that will gain full exempt status in the Philippine Golf Tour this year, and with a round left to be played Friday, the pressure will be at its highest with a total of 10 more within three shots of the cut line.
This, as South Korea’s Lee Song returned a one-over-par 73 to see his lead for low medal honors dwindle to two shots over the experienced Eric Gallardo and Bobe Salahog, who fired a level 72 and a 71, in that order as the leaderboard was shaken another time with Splendido proving to be a tough nut to crack.
READ: Sokor grabs solo lead as Q-School field struggles
Song had five birdies but signed for a double bogey and four bogeys as he failed to crack par for the second straight day for a 54-hole 213. He barely clung to the solo lead after Gallardo closed out bogey-bogey.
“My first two holes were really the only highlights of my round,” said Song. “After that, it was a struggle. On No. 11 (which he doubled), I couldn’t get out of the bunker cleanly–it was too steep–and I even missed a short putt for bogey.”
But more than the race at the top, focus will be at the bottom as only the top 30 scores will earn tour cards for the year.
Four Filipinos, two Japanese, a Frenchman and a Korean are tied for the 25th to 34th spots at 227, and all of them would need good closing rounds to assure themselves of moving on without any complications.
And then there are two former national champions, Jobim Carlos and Anthony Fernando, who are currently a shot and four shots out after a 76 and 78, in that order. Ferdie Aunzo, a multiple leg winner during the early years of the tour, is also out of the magic circle of 30, currently running 37th after a second straight 77.
Ivan Yabut, the Filipino-American who will campaign in the country full time after failing to secure cards in the Asian Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, fired a 74 to now be three shots behind like two others.
Yabut, who shared the lead with Song on Tuesday after opening with a 67, has failed to break par in his last two rounds.
