Mamat cards 66, assumes solo lead

CARMONA, Cavite – Mardan Mamat moved in the threshold of pulling off another major win here in three years as he pulled away from the chasing pack with a brilliant six-under 66, putting him four strokes clear of Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat after three rounds of the rich Resorts World Manila Masters presented by 918.com yesterday.

Mamat, crowded by Japanese Daisuke Kataoka in the first round and by Korean teener Wang Jeung Hun halfway through the $1 million event, birdied the first four holes in impressive fashion then added three more against a lone bogey while saving pars three times to complete a sterling 31-35 card and a solid 17-under 199 aggregate at Manila Southwoods’ Masters Course.

Aphibarnrat, who stayed in joint third in the first two rounds, moved up to second this time with a 68 as Wang went the way Kataoka went – tumbling down the leaderboard with a wind-blown 77 after impressing the elite field with a superb 65 Friday to grab a share of the lead.

But with a 203 total, Aphibarnrat lay four strokes behind Mamat and will have a lot of catching up to do in today’s final round given the superb form and confidence the Singaporean ace has been dishing out in the first 54 holes of the championship sponsored by Resorts World Manila.

“I knew I needed a strong start for me to get that separation and today (yesterday) I succeeded in doing it,” said Mamat, who also dominated a crack international field to capture the Philippine Open crown at Wack Wack in 2012.

“Hopefully, I can get the job done tomorrow (Sunday). I’ve got a lot of support from the local crowd and I really appreciate that,” said Mamat, adding in jest that he was considering moving over here if he wins the coveted championship.

On a day of low scoring where 37 players hit under-par scores despite the wind condition in afternoon play, Frenchman Lionel Weber sizzled with an eight-under 64  to join the championship flight with a 204.

“It was a great day out there. I played my irons very well and my putting was good too. My putter felt really good. I struggled a bit with my putter in the last tournament but it has worked for me today. I felt a bit more relaxed as well,” said Weber, who hit nine birdies against a bogey.

The Filipino bets, meanwhile, all bowed out of contention with Tony Lascuña dropping to joint 35th at 213 after a 74, and Juvic Pagunsan also fumbling with a 74 for a 214 in a tie with five others, including compatriot Elmer Salvador, who shot a 71. Miguel Tabuena fired a 70 but lay way behind at 215.

But it was last year’s runner-up, Prom Meesawat, also of Thailand, who hogged the day’s spotlight as he turned in a record-setting bogey-free nine-under 63, capped by an eagle-3 on the final hole on a superb rescue shot from 212 yards that stopped just a foot of the cup.