Nakajima clings to a 2-shot lead despite 74

MANILA, Philippines - Toru Nakajima survived a birdie-less round in a day when the dreaded Wack Wack’s East yielded not a single under-par card, enabling the Japanese to cling to a two-shot lead despite a two-over 74 in the third round of the rich ICTSI Wack Wack Championship yesterday.

Cassius Casas came charging back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 to move within two but like in the previous round, he stumbled at the finish in another windy day, bogeying the 18th for a 72 that proved to be one of the four “best” scores in perhaps the most punishing day at the fabled layout.

But it was Nakajima who gained much from the day-long ordeal at the demanding course, his two-under 214 aggregate moving him 18 holes away from becoming the first foreign player to win on the five-year-old local circuit.

“Tough, really tough day,” rued Nakajima, who dumped his approach shot on the par-4 18th into the greenside bunker and failed to get up-and-down for his second bogey.

But two Davaoeño aces will be out to foil Nakajima’s ambitious bid as Casas, two behind at 216, and Jay Bayron, another shot farther back at 217 with Korean Micah Shin, join the Japanese in the championship flight today.

“I need to shoot two- or three-under to get a chance at the crown,” said Casas, trying to close out the season with back-to-back victories after snapping a three-year title slump at  Canlubang recently.

He actually looked headed for a big finish when he birdied Nos. 13 and 16 but hardly learned from a disastrous double bogey on the 18th in the second round Thursday.

Still, his even par total kept him within striking distance of the three-day leader while Bayron, who turned in one of the six one-under 35s, reeled back with three straight bogeys from No. 12, needing to birdie the 18th to save a 73.

“There’s still a chance. I hope to catch him (Nakajima) tomorrow (today),” said Bayron, who nipped Miguel Tabuena in a playoff to cop the  John Hay title. “We’ll see how he (Nakajima) plays with us.”

Shin also holed out with a birdie to join Bayron at third while Palos Verdes leg winner Michael Bibat stood at 218 after a 74.

Mars Pucay, who had an impressive 70 Wednesday but hobbled with a 77 midway through the P2.5 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., shot a 72 for a five-way at sixth with Johnnel Ababa and Elmer Saban, who also matched par 72, and Riviera Classic winner Mhark Fernando and Benjie Magada, who carded identical 74s.

Elmer Salvador failed to make his move in the pivotal round and fell behind by six at 220 after a 77 while Gerald Rosales blew a 35 start with a 38 for a 73 and a 221.

The other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.