GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite, Philippines — Jhonnel Ababa tamed the wind at the back and battled back from three down with a two-under 70 then watched Elmer Salvador crumble in a gusty finish to grab a two-stroke lead in the third round of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational at the Aoki course here yesterday.
Tied with his fellow Davaoeño halfway through the $100,000 event, Ababa fell by three as the former hit three birdies in a five-hole stretch from No. 6 but the latter struck back with a third straight birdie on No. 12 then made a tap-in on the par-5 16th to draw level.
He played through the wind in the last two holes and came up with pars, including a bunker-save on the 17th, while Salvador came in ruffled by the gusts, missed the last two greens and made bogeys, enabling Ababa to seize control at 209, moving 18 holes away from snapping a long title spell and joining the elite Filipino circle of winners on the inaugural Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up by ICTSI.
“The wind was strong and blowing from all direction so I just played it through and went for pars,” said Ababa, who after an even 36 at the front birdied No. 12 for the third straight day then barely missed an eagle on the 16th.
In contrast, Salvador, after a strong start, wavered in tough condition and lost his putting touch, bogeying No. 12 then failing to recover and fumbled with those closing birdies. He turned in a second straight 72 and dropped to second at 211.
“My putting went off at the back and it was tough out there with the strong wind,” rued Salvador, who looked headed for an explosive round after birdying Nos. 6 and 10, both for the third time, that sandwiched his other birdie feat on No. 8.
Justin Quiban, who moved within two of the erstwhile leaders with a 69 Thursday, limped with a 77 to slip to joint sixth at 218 with Tony Lascuña and Thai Tommy Mansuwan, who also hobbled in exacting conditions that saw only three players break par with 74 and 75, respectively.