CANLUBANG -- He might have given Juvic Pagunsan a crash course on shotmaking, but Tommy Manotoc will have to dish out more of this when he launches his most serious bid for a golf crown in years.
Manotoc, who has had a number of abbreviated stints in tournament of this magnitude, stormed to a two-shot lead with a second straight 71 yesterday, outclassing Pagunsan in a duel of Canlubang bets but finding a slew of youthful challengers in Artemio Murakami, Gerard Cantada and Solomon Gines heading into the final round of the DHL-NGAP men's amateur golf championship at Cangolf's north course here.
Manotoc's one-under-par round under ideal playing condition gave him a 54-hole aggregate of 215 for a two-shot lead he built around a fiery 33 at the front where he, having disposed of Pagunsan, matched Murakami and Cantada's power with power and birdies with birdies until he wavered with three bogeys in the last eight holes for a 38.
But Murakami and Cantada, who with Gines started the round three shots off Manotoc and Pagunsan, likewise faltered coming home and settled for 70s although they moved within two at 217, the same output put in by Gines, who also closed out with a two-under card one flight behind.
With Pagunsan skidding with a 78 for solo fifth at 222, the race for the crown is now reduced to the top four players although there were flashes of brilliance from two players down the standings trying to stage last ditch rallies in the tourney.
Jerome Delariarte, a 21-year-old bet from Southwoods, came through with the tournament-best five-under par 67 to leapfrog from 21st to sixth at 223, while national team mainstay Angelo Que finally made his move with a 70 as he tied first round leader Louie Dacudao (77) at 224.
But unless they sustain their fiery third rounds, it remains a four-cornered fight among the vintage Manotoc and the three youth players out to foil the most serious bid of the spearhead of Cangolf in various interclub tournaments.
Whether age and experience will prevail over youth and talent will be known today.
"I will have to play tomorrow (today) because this is one tournament where my presence will add color and age," said Manotoc, who, citing hypertension, quit after 36 holes after leading a star-studded field in the 1998 national championship at Alabang.
Manotoc, undaunted by playing alongside with the country's top amateurs, was flawless at the frontside with a 33 then added another birdie on No. 10 before a missed-green bogey on the next slowed down his bid. Two flubbed par-putts from five feet on Nos. 15 and 16 marred Manotoc's shaky windup.
Murakami, the reigning national champion, proved even better than Manotoc in a stretch of 12 holes where he went five-under, but he drove out of bounds on No. 13 for a double-bogey then dropped another stroke on the 18th which he three-putted for that 70.
The 16-year-old Murakami later blamed himself for not being able to handle the pressure although he vowed to go flat out in the final round in a bid to annex the other half of what is regarded as the national golf championship.
Cantada will also set out today all pumped up to win the crown on his comeback trail after a two-year long absence in the NGAP-staged events although he would have to check his stamina and composure in an expected day-long shootout.
"I have a good chance but I have to shoot at least two-under since everybody seems to be playing solid, especially Tito Tommy," said the 22-year-old Cantada.
And the soft-spoken Gines, 23, could come up with the biggest roar today although he said his short game must complement with his long game to be able to contend for the crown. He had nines of 34 and 36 and could've move within one shot off the leader had he not flubbed a six-foot par putt on No. 15.