Pucay, other Pinoys fall in Singapore golf

MANILA, Philippines - Mars Pucay sputtered with a two over par 74 after back-to-back 67s as the Filipino bets reeled back with poor third round stints in the Handa Singapore Classic paced by South African Peter Karmis in Singapore yesterday.

Tony Lascuna actually fired a two-under 70 but still dropped from 25th to joint 29th with a 10-under 206 on a day of torrid scoring at the Orchid Golf and Country Club course.

Pucay, the best placed Filipino in the first two days, lost his touch and limped home with four bogeys against two birdies as he tumbled down from seventh place to joint 45th with a 208 with 18 holes left in the $400,000 tournament.

Angelo Que, who sparked hopes of an RP surge with 66 in the second round, birdied three of the first six holes but dropped three bogeys the rest of the way and finished with a 72, slipping from 14th to 36th place with a 207.

Artemio Murakami shot a 71and hardly moved from 64th to joint 62nd at 210 in a tie with Juvic Pagunsan, who also turned in a 71.

Karmis slowed down with a 70 after two 63s but remained way ahead of the field with a 20-under 196, four shots clear of compatriot Jbe Kruger and Taiwanese Chan Yih-shin, who both had 200s after identical 68s.