RP golfers fall behind in Malaysian Amateur Open

MANILA, Philippines - Antonio Asistio and Dante Becierra matched par 72 to catch Peter Villaber and two other Filipinos in 15th place, 11 shots off Thanyayon Khrongpa of Thailand in the third round of the 107th Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship at the Sarawak Golf Club in Kuching, Malaysia late Saturday.

Asistio, who bounced back from an opening 78 with a 71 in the second round, made scrambling pars in three of the last five holes to salvage a 72 and post a 221 aggregate.

He tied ICTSI teammates Villaber, who faltered with a 74, and Becierra and Calatagan bets Alvin Engino and Jhonnel Ababa in 15th place, 11 strokes off Throngpa, who continued to show the way despite a one-over par 73. Engino also had a 74 while Ababa, winner of last week’s Sabah Open, made a 73.

Throngpa pooled a 210 and kept his three-shot lead intact although Malaysian Haziq Hamizan took over the challenger’s role from compatriot Kalaba Ibrahim with a 71 for a 213. Ibrahim sputtered with a 75 and slid to third with a 215.

Jerson Balasabas had a 226 after a 74 while Art Arbole made a 74 for a 228 followed by Mark Fernando (78-230), Paul Echaves (78-231) and Zannyboy Gialon (79-233).