Thai forces 4-way logjam at the top in Pradera Classic

LUBAO, Pampanga  , Philippines  —  Jhonnel Ababa is at it again, so does Andrew Campbell while Keanu Jahns rescued a late par and Thai Tawit Polthai holed out with a birdie to force a four-way tie in the Pradera Verde Classic in one of the most crowded third round leaderboards in the two-year-old Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

Polthai birdied the par-5 18th in the last flight to shoot a 71, catching Campbell, who fired the day’s best 66 at the wind-raked Pradera layout, Ababa, who carded a 69, and Jahns, who also put in a one-under card, at the helm at 210.

But Aussie David Gleeson (68), first round leader Andreas Gronkvist (72) of Sweden, Thais Piya Swangarunporn (71) and Namchok Tantipokhakul (72) and Tony Lascuña (70) and Clyde Mondilla (71) stayed on sight with identical 212s. 

Halfway leader Guido Van der Valk remained in the hunt at 213 despite a 75, setting up a wild finish in the $100,000 championship serving as the eighth leg of the second season of the PGT Asia.

Ababa rebounded from a second round 73 with a 33-36 card he sealed with birdies in the last two holes inside seven feet as the winningest player on the PGTA (with three victories) moved closer to defending the crown he won by two over Campbell last year and extend his “lucky” streak on the newest regional circuit put up by ICTSI.

“It will all depend on who plays better in the wind (tomorrow),” said the former amateur hotshot.

But the 29-year-old Aussie pressed his bid to get back at Ababa as he put in the best card in windy conditions, a pair of 33s spiked by four straight birdies from No. 1 and four more birdies in the last 10 holes against two bogeys.

“I played quite good. It’s windy out there but I like the condition as well as the humid weather,” said Campbell, who worked his way back from seven flights behind to earn a spot in today’s featured threesome with Ababa and Jahns.