Leans on late eagle birdie, Saldaña falters but keeps lead

MANILA, Philippines - Andres Saldaña hit an eagle and a birdie in the last five holes to salvage an even par 72 and cling to a two-stroke lead over Rupert Zaragosa in the third round of the 19th WWWExpress-DHL RVF Amateur golf championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Cangolf’s North course yesterday.

Saldaña blew an overnight three-shot lead but recovered in time with an eagle on the par-5 No. 14 and a birdie on No. 17 for that 72 as he regained a two-shot cushion heading to the final 18 holes of the annual event serving as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

“Of course there will be pressure, because there’s something (a big title) at stake,” said Saldaña after moving 18 holes away from nailing what could be his biggest victory before moving over to the pro ranks.

With a 210 aggregate, Saldaña stood two shots ahead of Zaragosa, who finally caught up the leader after 13 holes but failed to match his rival’s blazing windup to settle for a 71 and a 212.

“I just hope to be able to do (in the last round) what I have been doing in the first three days,” added Saldaña, one of Alabang team’s mainstays who will turn pro next month after the Philippine Airlines Interclub in Bacolod next week.

Magno Arancon of Del Monte fired the day’s best four-under 68 and as he moved into title contention with a 213, just three strokes behind Saldaña.

Lee Su-hong, a Korean expat playing out of the Riviera in Cavite, shot a 69 to be at 219 in a tie with Justin Quiban and the veteran John Kier Abdon.

Quiban, who played for the Philippines in last year’s Southeast Asian Games, also matched par 72, while Abdon turned in a 73.

Pauleen del Rosario, meanwhile, slowed down with a 73 after a two-under 70 but the 15-year-old mainstay of Team ICTSI all but wrapped up the ladies’ crown with a 143 total, eight shots over Miya Legaspi going to the final round of the 54-hole event backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

Legaspi carded a 74 for a 151 while Harmie Constantino recovered with a 71 after an 81 but remained too far behind at 152.

Mikhaela Fortuna and Sam Green wavered with a 81 and 87 for 165 and 169, respectively.