Corpus wields hot putter to fire 68, gains in International Series Morocco
MANILA, Philippines — Carl Corpus found his range and rhythm just in time. After a grueling two-day struggle, the Filipino ace fired a flawless, bogey-free 68 Saturday (Sunday Manila time) to vault from the edge of the cutline into a tie for 27th after three rounds of the $2-million International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s demanding Red Course.
Armed with a hot putter, Corpus engineered a spectacular 28-spot leaderboard jump. He sparked his round with back-to-back birdies from No. 6, before picking up further strokes on Nos. 12, 14, and 17. The cornerstone of his brilliant third round was an efficient 24-putt performance, which he masterfully salvaged with seven incredible scrambling pars.
Now holding a six-under 213 aggregate at the par-73 layout, Corpus has fueled his bid for a Top 15 finish heading into the final 18 holes. The players occupying the 10th through 15th slots sit just one stroke ahead at 212.
The performance marked a welcome return to form for Corpus, a rising star on the Philippine Golf Tour who clinched victory in Morocco on the Asian Development Tour last year. The turnaround was purely a product of short-game magic; he spent the day grappling with his long game, finding just eight fairways with his driver and hitting only 11 greens in regulation.
However, his putter came alive from the opening green. He navigated the front nine with 13 putts and needed just 11 on the back side, highlighted by an extraordinary streak of six consecutive one-putts starting from the 10th.
In contrast, compatriot Justin Quiban failed to sustain the momentum of a second-round 68, slowing down with a two-birdie, two-bogey 73 and slipping into a tie for 33rd at 214.
Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, American star Bubba Watson hung tough. Carding a gritty 69, the two-time Masters titlist moved to 15-under 204 to cling to a slim one-stroke lead over Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Hong Kong's Taichi Kho (68), who matched 205s.
Japan's Takanori Konishi also surged into contention with a blistering 66, joining erstwhile leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert (72) in a share of fourth at 207.
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