Rates, Lam catch Pucay at helm

MANILA, Philippines - Mars Pucay fumbled with a double-bogey on the tough No. 18 for a 72, enabling a rallying Jun Rates and James Ryan Lam to force a three-way logjam as erstwhile leader John Kier Abdon bowed out with a disastrous 82 in the third round of the ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship at Southlinks Golf Club yesterday.

Rates fired the day’s best round of 68 while Lam birdied the last two holes to salvage a 72 and tie Pucay at three-under 213. With Rolando Marabe (69), Ferdie Aunzo (70) and Elmer Saban (72) staying just a shot behind at 214, a wild, wooly race for the top P650,000 purse looms in today’s final round of the 72-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Mhark Fernando also stayed in the hunt at 216 despite a 75 and first round leader Rufino Bayron bounced back with a 71 for joint eighth with Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 75, at 217, making it an anybody’s race in a fitting finale to the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“It’s still anybody’s race tomorrow (today),” said Pucay, who blew a two-stroke lead with that double-bogey mishap on the difficult par-5 finishing hole. “I was doing okay until I made a bad tee shot on the last hole. I was somehow pulling back again and tried to avoid the bunker but that cost me a double.”

Like the rest of the contenders, Rates and Lam are raring to end the season on a winning note after the duo put themselves in contention after another challenging day at Southlinks where new leaders emerged for the third straight time.

“I really want to end the season with a win and this is my first time to get a crack at two victories in a year,” said Rates, who dominated an elite field to reign at ICTSI John Hay last March.

Starting the day at joint eight, the diminutive Rates worked his way up with two birdies at the front then rattled off three straight from No. 10 to highlight his day-best 68.

“You have to limit your mistakes here. As much as possible hit the fairways to be able to set up target for birdies. It’s a tough course and with final round pressure, anybody can win,” said Rates, who almost hit an ace after hitting the flagstick on No. 12.

Two behind with two holes to go, Lam said he had to make things happen to get a clear shot at a first-ever crown.

He did.

Pulling out an 8-iron from around 172 yards, Lam hit it to within three feet for birdie on the 17th and used his 3-iron twice to set up a pitching wedge shot from 130 yards to the middle of the green, rolling in a 28-footer for another birdie.

But Pucay, Rates and Lam will not only have themselves to watch out in today’s final round as Marabe, Aunzo and Saban stood just one stroke behind and Fernando staying three off.