Pactolerin wavered in the last few holes after surging ahead by as many as two strokes earlier in the day. But his big effort put him exactly where his fellow Negrenses here watching his every move want him to be – at the top.
Alit, a 51-year-old grandfather seeking to become the oldest winner on tour, buried a difficult 35-footer on the last hole for a piece of the lead even as Ababa needed four scrambling pars from the 14th to finish close out with a 72.
The three frontrunners were at 141, just a stroke ahead of Dan Cruz and Vivencio Lascuna, turning the fifth leg of the circuit into another classic.
Cruz, keeping his bid for a first title in nearly seven years afloat, shot a 72 while Lascuna remained on track for a longshot victory with his 71.
While scoring has not been that impressive in the tournamnt organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc., bankrolled by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and supported by San Miguel Beer, it is shaping up to be the most exciting.
Five players, including leg winners Antonio Lascuna (73) and Richard Sinfuego (71), are just two behind at 215 and seven others are very much in the running with the tough conditions of the Marapara expected to lend a suspenseful finish.
Another prominent Negrense, Rodrigo Cuello, and Danny delos Santos shot 70s while Elmer Salvador carded a 72 to be in that large group at 215.
There were only two players who cracked par in the round, Edgar Ababa and Ruben Sasutil with their 68s greatly boosting their chance for the P100,000 top prize. Ababa jumped from 19th to a tie for 11th with Vic Santia at 216 while Sasutil took a big leap from 28th to solo 13th at 217.
The day was particularly frustrating for second round co-leader Mars Pucay and amateur JR Tanpinco who was just a stroke off the lead before tee-off.
Pucay’s 77 had him plunging into a tie for 14th while Tanpinco’s bubble burst with an 81 as he slid from second overall to 26th.
Pactolerin, who spent his teenage years working in a sugar plantation in nearby Victorias, said there will be just little room for error in today’s final round.
"Sa dami ng player na pwedeng manalo mahirap magkamali. Sa putting pa din magkakatalo yan pero siyempre pag ang palo mo sumablay, pwedeng hindi lang bogey ang dadating sa iyo," said Pactolerin, who has yet to win this season but although he’s running fourth in the Order of Merit.
He had his eyes on the solo lead after reaching the green on the par-4 335-yard 12th with a tremendous drive that required a carry of 300 yards for a two-putt birdie that got him to two under.
But his bid to break loose from the main pack went astray when he hooked his drive on the 15th then left his approach short on the 17th for a couple of costly bogeys.
Where they stand:
213 - C. Ababa 72-69-72 (37-35), R. Pactolerin 73-69-71 (36-35), R.Alit 71-71-71 (37-34)
214 - D. Cruz 68-74-72 (34-38), V.Lascuna 70-73-71 (34-37)
215 - A. Lascuna 69-73-73 (37-36), E. Salvador 72-71-72 (35-37), R. Sinfuego 70-74-71 (35-36), R. Cuello 75-70-70 (37-33), D. delos Santos 75-70-70 (33-37)
216 - V. Santia 71-71-74 (37-37), E. Ababa 76-72-68 (34-34)
217 - R. Sasutil 74-75-68 (34-34)
218 - M. Pucay 72-69-77 (40-37), R. Ardimer 72-7472 (36-36), E. Sanchez 74-73-71 (34-37), A. Que 75-73-70 (35-35)
219 - E. Bagtas 74-72-73 (38-35), Ron. Pactolerin 73-76-70 (35-35)
220 - J. Pagunsan (am) 75-70-75 (37-38), M. Manubay 70-74-76 (39-37), A. Balan 73-76-71 (35-36)
221 - N.Kempis 74-74-74 (37-37), R. Pagunsan 79-69-73 (35-38), R. Antonio 72-78-71 (37-34)