Balasabas scrambles but keeps lead intact

CANLUBANG — Jessie Balasabas struggled to a two-over par 74 yesterday but retained his four-stroke lead as Rufino Bayron’s fightback fizzled out in the closing holes in the third round of the second National Caddies Open at the north course of the Cangolf complex here.

For a while, Balasabas thought he would relive his disastrous 79 over the same course last year as he stumbled with four bogeys and a double bogey in the early going, enabling Bayron to bounce back from four shots down and draw level after 13 holes.

But the 23-year-old Zamboanga native kept his poise and came up with three birdies, including a couple of improbable ones from 35 feet to regain his four-stroke lead heading into the final round of this four-day championship at Wack Wack’s east today.

"I was keeping count of his (Bayron) score so I know he caught up on me after the 13th hole," said Balasabas in Filipino, who now has a 218 aggregate. "But I wasn’t bothered and just kept my composure."

The same could not be said of Bayron, the first round leader who unleashed a third round siege only to falter when everything seemed to be going his way. He drove out-of-bounds on the 14th but salvaged a bogey, rescued pars on the next three but dropped another stroke on the 18th for a 74 and a 222.

Mark Fernando posted the day’s best score of 73 for a 225 but stayed seven off Balasabas, now just 18 holes away from clinching the championship trophy and the first of three berths in the NCO program.

But it won’t be easy.

"I’ve seen the course but never played it," said Balasabas referring to the Wack Wack’s East, site of many Philippine Opens. "If I can sustain my putting, a five-over par would be enough to win."

"If he (Balasabas) scores that and I could win it with an even par," said Bayron, seventh placer here last year..

Only the top 21 among the 36 who survived the 36-hole cut advanced to the final round of this tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and Pagcor, including teener Paul Echavez of Apo Golf, who had a 235 after a 77.

Rounding up the top 10 were Gary Sales (238) of Villamor, Bonifacio Ramos (239) of Zamboanga, Elizardo Canda (241) and Jeff Tumbaga (241) of Evangelista, Dondon Ozabel (241) of Villamor and Jonathan Dionson (241) of Marapara.

The top three placers here will earn slots in the pool under the Philippine Amateur Golf Foundation headed by Tommy Manotoc.