Fernando, Asistio falter

MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando stumbled to his first over-par round in three days - a 73 as he tumbled down to joint fifth, seven strokes behind Korean Han Chang-won in the Asian Amateur Championship at the Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup course in China Saturday.

Fernando, who had chased the leaders with a six-under aggregate and stood three strokes off the pace in the first two rounds, sputtered on his homeward trip with three bogeys against a bogey for a 35-38. He had a five-under 211, five behind Han, the individual gold medalist in the recent Nomura Cup who had a 10-under 206 after a 71.

Worse was Antonio Asistio II, who also kept himself within striking distance in the first rounds but dropped out of contention with an atrocious seven-over 79 in a round marred by a quintuple bogey on the par-4 No. 9.

The ICTSI golf team mainstay went out with a 43, birdied Nos. 11 and 12 but made bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 for that 79, falling way behind with a 219.