Pagunsan remains in fourth despite 69

MANILA, Philippines - Rey Pagunsan fired a three-under par 69 but remained in fourth as Mardan Mamat moved closer to a breakthrough win on the Mercedes-Benz Tour with a five-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Rory Hie of Indonesia in the third round of the Masters Singapore yesterday.

Pagunsan rattled off five birdies against two bogeys at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club for that 69 and a 54-hole haul of 210, five shots behind Mamat, who had a 205 after a 67.

Hie, 20, and one of the region’s rising stars, shot a 65 to be at 207 while first day leader Lam Chih Bing stood at 208 after a 69.

Mamat started the day with a one-shot lead over Lam and later stamped his authority on the $60,000 tournament with a four under par stint at the back with birdies on Nos. 10, 11, 15 and 17.