After two days of near-flawless golf, Lloyd Go finally showed signs of vulnerability. But with conditions turning unexpectedly benign and his closest challengers failing to capitalize, the Cebuano ace moved within striking distance of the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge crown with just 18 holes remaining.
Go endured a birdie-less front nine marked by errant shots and missed opportunities but still salvaged a two-under-par 70, thanks to a vintage back-nine charge that stretched his lead to a commanding 12 strokes after three rounds of the ₱2.5-million championship at the par-72 Pinewoods Golf Club in Baguio on Thursday.
The 31-year-old, who built a massive nine-shot cushion with brilliant opening rounds of 64 and 67, recovered from an outward 38 by firing six birdies against a lone bogey on the back nine. He capped his rally with four straight birdies from No. 14, leaving his nearest pursuers well behind.
His strong finish gave him a 54-hole total of 15-under 201, extending his lead over Jeffren Lumbo, who stumbled with a 73 for a 213. Go is now in a prime position to claim the ₱441,500 champion’s purse and his second Philippine Golf Tour title after his breakthrough victory at Palos Verdes in 2024.
Ironically, the third round presented the field with its best opportunity to make a move.
Unlike the previous day, when strong winds battered Pinewoods and added to the challenge of the demanding mountain layout, Thursday’s moving day unfolded under near-ideal conditions. The calmer weather and lighter breeze were expected to produce lower scores and tighten the leaderboard after Go’s uncharacteristic struggles on the front nine.
Instead, no serious challenge materialized.
While Go briefly faltered, the chasing pack failed to take advantage, leaving the leader largely unthreatened despite his shaky start. With the elements no longer posing a major obstacle, Go once again displayed the shot-making that fueled his dominant opening rounds, carding a blistering four-under 32 on the back nine.
“The first three holes were the hardest here, and I actually played them pretty well, so it was a good start,” said Go, who opened with three straight pars. “I hit a lot of good shots on the front nine, but I kept ending up in the wrong spots – unlike in the first two rounds – which led to some bogeys.”
He added, “But I steadied myself on the back nine.”
Go not only regained control but widened his advantage even further, putting himself on the verge of a second PGT title.
“I’ll just stick to my own game and try to find more fairways and greens,” he said of his approach heading into the final round.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding the mistakes that marred his third round, including two three-putts and two bogeys from water hazards. Despite those miscues, his lead barely shrank. In fact, he expanded it to a near-insurmountable 12 strokes, putting him on course to eclipse Reymon Jaraula’s nine-shot victory over Rupert Zaragosa at Del Monte last year.
Go’s commanding lead has positioned him to turn Friday’s final round into little more than a victory march on a course he had never played before this week.
That unfamiliarity never showed.
The Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour campaigner, who also sharpened his game while competing in Japan last year, quickly figured out Pinewoods’ rolling terrain, narrow fairways and slick greens. He opened with a spectacular 64 highlighted by two eagles under preferred lies rules before following it up with a 67 in blustery conditions to build a huge cushion entering the final 36 holes.
Even when adversity finally surfaced in the third round, Go never lost his composure. And with none of his rivals able to mount a meaningful charge despite the favorable weather, the tournament remained firmly in his grasp.
Clyde Mondilla carded the day’s best round of 69 but remained well off the pace at 217. Rupert Zaragosa shot an even-par 72 to sit at 218, while Tony Lascuña fired a 70 to join Randy Garalde, who also shot a two-under round, Taewon Ha, who carded a 71, Fidel Concepcion, who posted a 72, and Lee Song, who struggled to a 75, in a tie for fifth at 219.
The third round also produced two holes-in-one, with Mars Pucay and Guido van der Valk acing the 120-yard 12th hole. Pucay, a hometown favorite, used a 52-degree wedge and a Srixon No. 4 ball, while van der Valk relied on a 54-degree wedge and a Srixon ball to record the eighth ace of his career. Both players received a ₱20,000 bonus from organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Pucay and van der Valk both finished with 73s, with Pucay moving into a tie for 12th at 222 and van der Valk climbing into a share of 15th at 223.
