Ratchpol Jantavara tamed Luisita’s backside with a 32 and went on to fire a 67 and seize control halfway through the Philippine Golf Tour Asia third season Qualifying Tournament in Tarlac Wednesday.
Jantavara birdied three of the first four holes at the back then holed out with another birdie to jump from middle of the pack to the top of the heap with a 141 after a 35-32 that more than made up for a shaky 74 Tuesday.
Compatriot Wongsakorn Choowong likewise sizzled at the back with three birdies in the last seven holes to shoot a 69 and move to second at 142 in a tie with erstwhile leader Marcos Pastor, who slowed down with a 75 after opening with a 67.
Aussie Fidel Concepcion shot a 70 while local bet Kris Etter turned in a 73 for joint fourth at 143 while six players – Aussie Weston Lane (76), Thai Kittiroj Chantharothai (74), Luke Trocado of South Africa (75), Rohan Kathuria of India (76), Korean Moon Seung Ryul (79) and Taric Can of the US (79) made the 65-plus ties cut at 155.
But they will have a lot of catching up to do in the last 36 holes of the elims with only the top 40 and ties to gain Category 6 berths for the new PGT Asia season kicking off next week, also at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course.
Others boosting their bids are Thai Puk Pradittan (71), American Pete Vilairatana (71), Japan’s Issei Mori (72) and Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang (75), who all assembled 144s, while another stroke back at 145 were Korean Cho Phil Kyu (71), Sebastian Hansson of Sweden (72), Japanese Ryui Hashimoto (73), Singapore’s Deng Shan Koh (73) and Thai Tawan Phongpun (74).
The other Filipino bidders in the hunt are Anthony Fernando and Enrico Gallardo, who carded 71 and 73, respectively, for 146s, Omar Dungca (72-148), Nico Evangelista (75-149), Santiago Cabo (76-149), Cookie La’O (74-150), GJ Katigbak 77-150), Jet Mathay (75-151), Robert Pactolerin (75-151), Darren Saqui (76-151), Orlan Sumcad (78-151), Richnell Albano (74-152), Joseph Suarez (76-152) and Kuresh Samanodi (79-152).
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