Miñoza cards 71, ties for 14th

Frankie Miñoza birdied two of the last four holes to salvage an even par 71 yesterday and move to 14th place with seven others heading into the final round of the Japan PGA Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

Miñoza, who virtually bowed out of the title hunt with 73-76 rounds in the first two days, had a 219 aggregate, still 12 strokes off American Dean Wilson, who also matched par 71 at the Queen’s Hills Country Club course.

For the third straight day, the ace Filipino shotmaker, who snapped a three-year title drought in the rich Japan PGA Tour with a stirring victory in Fujisankei Classic last Sunday, failed to get going although he improved a bit with only three bogeys to mar his 36-35 card.

Still, he was way off the pace with Wilson threatening to run away with the victory. He was 8-up on second running Satoshi Higashi, who had a 215 after a 73.