Que shoots 69, falls to joint 5th

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que reeled back with two late bogeys and settled for a 69, dropping to joint fifth, three strokes behind South African Ernie Els, who took charge with a 65 midway through the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling yesterday.

Que, whose bogey-free 65 in the opener put him just one shot behind India’s Jyoti Randhawa, pressed his bid by birdying Nos. 3 and 4 for the second straight day. But he missed the green on the par-3 No. 8 and made his first bogey, bounced back with back-to-back birdies on No. 13 to get back into the mix but faltered with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 to wind up with a 33-36 card.

Still, his six-under 134 aggregate kept him within striking distance although Els, one of the former Major winners vying in the $1.3 million event, made his move with a five-under card to wrest a two-shot lead with a 131.

“I’m happy with how I played,” said Que, who three-putted No. 15 and missed the green on the 18th. “But in all, if you count the putts that I holed, it evens out. I’m still pretty glad where I am right now, still have a chance.”

The former three-time Asian Tour leg winner was actually hoping to play alongside Els in the third round his late-hole mishaps dropped him off the leaderboard.

“I really wanted to play with Ernie, but maybe, hopefully on the last day,” said Que. “I just have to keep my composure and be relaxed and keep on doing what I’m doing,” said Que.

France Raphael Jacquelin followed up his 66 with a 67 to tie Aussie Scott Hend, firing a 66, at 133 while nine others tied Que at fifth.