Malaysia’s Galven Green insisted he did nothing special on Friday at tree-lined Luisita, but the result of his third round was anything but ordinary.
“I just came out and played, not doing anything special,” Green said moments after carving out an eagle-aided, bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to grab a one-shot lead over Michele Ortolani heading into the final round of the $100,000 BingoPlus Philippine ADT Open. “I was just finding fairways and hit greens and fortunately made some putts.”
Green, who drained a 20-footer for eagle on No. 9 to turn in 31, matched the low round of the week set by Englishman Thomas Plumb in the opening round on Wednesday. Sean Ramos and Angelo Que remained the only Filipinos with mathematical chances entering the final 18 holes after both stayed on par for a third straight round.
“I’m just going to go out there and do the best that I can do,” said Green, who sits on a 54-hole aggregate of 202 when asked about his final-round mindset. “There’s a lot of golf to be played still.”
The 22-year-old Ramos is in position to contend for a second straight victory.
“I feel a little bit experienced now, being in contention in these events,” said Ramos, who finished tied for second at the ADT Players Championship in Malaysia last month after losing in a three-man playoff. “I’m just more excited and happy to be continuing.”
Que, meanwhile, sits seven shots off the pace despite a 69, but the three-time Asian Tour winner and reigning Order of Merit champion on the local PGT remains hopeful.
“As long as you are out there playing, anything can happen,” said the 47-year-old Que.
Second-round leader Franco Scorzato, who fired a 66 on Thursday, slipped with a 71 to fall three shots behind the leader. Englishman Thomas Plumb, however, bounced back from a second-round 74 with an eagle-spiked, bogey-free 66 to move within two strokes of the lead.
Ortolani, the Italian who regularly competes on the Professional Golf Tour of India and the Alps Tour, fired eight birdies in a 65 to stay in contention for a breakthrough ADT title.
Amateur Shin Suzuki faded from the title race after a second straight 72 and now sits 10 shots back, level with Rupert Zaragosa, who also carded a level-par round. Keanu Jahns and Clyde Mondilla are likewise on 212 totals after rounds of 68 and 69, respectively.
