Que joint 5th; Pucay fades

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que fired a two-under 70 to join three others in fifth place, four shots behind Thai ace Kiradech Aphibarnrat as erstwhile joint leader Mars Pucay floundered with a four-over 76 in the third round of the season-opening Asian Tour International at the Suwan Golf and Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.

Que continued his fight back from a poor opening of 74 as he followed up his second round output of 67 with that 70 that featured three birdies against a bogey. He had a five-under 211 for joint fifth with Tetsuji Hiratsuka (68), Jbe Kruger (69) and Piya Swangarunporn (69).

Aphibarnrat eagled the par-5 18th to fire a 69 for a 207 as he posted a two-shot lead over Korean Hwang Inn-choon, who turned in a solid five-under 67 for a 209.

Lam Chih-bing and David Johnson shot identical 69s to share third place at 210.

Pucay, who was impressive with back-to-back 69s, dropped off the leaderboard with three straight bogeys from No. 8. He fumbled with two more bogeys on Nos. 12 and 17 before closing out with a birdie on the 18th for that 76. He slid to joint 14th with a 214.

Tony Lascuna, the only other Filipino survivor, made a 34 after nine holes but bogeyed No. 10 and settled for a 71 for a share of ninth with a 213 with one round left in the $300,000 event.