ILOILO, Philippines — Just like that – Jobim Carlos is back in control for a crack at another Philippine Golf Tour crown.
Carlos ripped the Iloilo Golf and Country Club behind brilliant shotmaking, superb iron shots and exceptional putting, producing a record eight-under 62 for a three-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa in the third round of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge and into the threshold of another victory here yesterday.
Five shots behind Guido Van der Valk halfway through the P3 million ICTSI-sponsored event, Carlos closed out his fiery 31-31 card in ideal playing condition the way he started it – on back-to-back birdies – as he took control again at 10-under 200, three ahead of Ababa, who shot a second straight 68 for a 203, and four up on Joenard Rates.
Van der Valk failed to keep the momentum of his lead-grabbing 66 Thursday, fumbling with a three-over 73 and tumbling from top to joint fourth at 206 with Rene Menor (67) and first round leader Tim Stewart of Australia (71).
The bogey-free 62, which included birdies on Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 15, erased the previous low marks of 64 by amateurs Francisco Maravilla and Ponciano Saldana Jr. and put the hottest player on the tour 18 holes away from nailing a third victory in less than three months that also saw him post two runner-up efforts and a couple of top six finishes.
“The record was a bonus. I had a wonderful start in the tougher nine so I made sure to maintain the momentum,” said Carlos, who spiked his brilliant round with two par-saves at the back to get another crack at the crown worth P550,000.
Rates broke the record earlier with a 63 built around three straight birdies from No. 4 and five more at the back that negated his lone bogey on No. 8 until Carlos beat it with that birdie-birdie windup.
Still, the diminutive Rates, who recorded his first and only victory at John Hay in 2014, relished the chance of slugging it out with Carlos and Ababa in the championship flight at 204.
“This is a good sign because I’m really hungry for a win,” said Rates.