CAVITE, Philippines – Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura birdied his last hole to salvage a three-under-par 67 on Saturday, January 25, and — safe to say — settle for a one-shot lead heading to the final round of the $500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open where two Filipinos kept mathematical chances after contrasting rounds at the Masters of Manila Southwoods in Carmona.
Just when the two-time winner on the Japan Tour was seemingly on cruise control after going five-under-par in his first 11 holes and be the first one to take it to double digits under par here at 10, Ikemura signed for a wet, three-putt double bogey on No. 12 before dropping another shot on the 15th with that birdie giving him a 54-hole, 202 aggregate.
“I will just try to find more fairways (in the final round) and hopefully putt as well,” Ikemura said through an interpreter when asked of his final round game plan, where he will try to stave off Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, a six-man group that’s two shots down, and Filipinos Justin Quiban and Miguel Tabuena, who are four and three shots behind, respectively.
“I had some unlucky bounces today,” Ikemura continued. “I hope to be lucky (on Sunday) and win my first Asian Tour event.”
Kaewkanjana, the Thai who led after each of the first two rounds, showed remarkable resiliency, as the two-time Asian Tour winner had a really bad start, going five-over in his first nine holes before finishing birdie-birdie to shoot a 72 for 203.
Another Thai, Danthai Boonma, leads the group with a 204 tally after shooting a course record 62 built around eight birdies, even as Quiban battled hard after a rocky start to fire a 69 and Tabuena birdied his last four holes to shoot a 65.
“I couldn’t hit it in the center of the face all of the front nine,” the 28-year-old Quiban, who birdied two of his last three holes, told reporters when asked why he struggled early. “I just fought it out and started hitting it (driver) better.”
Quiban’s effort was a far cry from what an easy driving day it was for him in the second round when he carved out an eagle-spiked 64. Still, he likes his chances heading into the final day where he carries a 206 aggregate.
The 30-year-old Tabuena, meanwhile, finally showcased why he is one of the bright local hopes here by picking up shots in his last four holes and setting the stage up for another win coming from behind.
“Definitely,” Tabuena said when asked if five shots is still manageable. “I will just have to have a good start (in the final round), see where I am at after about eight holes.
Tabuena is definitely no stranger to comebacks, pulling off several come-from-behind victories on the local tour, and winning his third Asian Tour title in late 2023 in India by erasing a five-shot, final round deficit to win by one after a closing seven-under-par 65.
Aidric Chan and Sean Ramis fired a 69 and a 70, respectively, to be in a group that will start the final day six shots off the pace. – Rappler.com