Moore catches Elmer with 70

CEBU, Philippines  – American Jonathan Moore charged back with two birdies at the back to salvage a 70 and tie Elmer Salvador, who settled for a third straight 71, at the helm while Jay Bayron moved within one with a solid 69 in an action-packed third round of the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI 2011 here yesterday.

After two days of struggle on the firm greens of the Cebu Country Club, the surviving 50-player field played on a softened surface but only 10 produced the desired results with four breaking pars and six churning out even par scores, including Moore, whose two short birdie putts on Nos. 11 and 16 pulled him even with Salvador at 213.

“My birdies at the backside were really close and I hit about three feet and four feet,” said Moore, hoping to cap a big week with a much lower round after opening with 72-71 and then a 70.

“What I’m excited about is I’ve shot better each round and I think that would be a good goal,” said Moore. “If I could shoot better again tomorrow (today), I’ll have a good chance.”

Salvador, who took a one-stroke lead over Moore halfway through this Asian Development Tour event Thursday, actually padded his lead to three after birdying the first two holes. But he reeled back with a double-bogey on No. 13 on a three-putt miscue. He missed a short birdie putt on No. 14 but recovered with a birdie on the 16th only to drop another stroke on the 17th after missing the green for a third 71 in row.

“My putting was really terrible. I missed a five-foot birdie putt on No. 14 and some short putts that would have given me the solo lead,” said Salvador in Filipino. “I also made some good pitch shots but can’t make it up-and-down.”

Like Moore, Bayron also liked his chances as he bounced back with a 69 for a 214, fanning his own hopes to defend the crown he won last year when the event, sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, debuted on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

“I had my chance at the lead but I blew it with poor putting,” said Bayron, who flubbed short birdie putts on Nos. 16 and 17, in Filipino. “But I’m not that far behind, so there’s still a chance not just for me but for the rest to catch up and win this tournament.”

With Jay’s younger brother Rufino at 215 after a 71, and four others, including Tony Lascuña (69), Anthony Fernando and Marvin Dumandan, who both had 71s, and Cassius Casas (72), pooling identical 216s, a highly charged final round shootout among a slew of Davaoeños and an American top gun for the top $11,375 purse.

Sri Lanka’s Mithlin Perera also carded a 71 and joined the group of six-over par scorers while Ebarra Quiachon and Jhonnel Ababa shot a 69 and 71, respectively, for 217s.

Rufino actually won a pro tournament as an amateur in 2009 at ICTSI-Valley Golf Challenge, but remained winless, finishing joint eighth in the last Philippine Open.

Like Salvador, he birdied the first two holes but struggled the rest of the way, making three bogeys while salvaging two pars in the last five holes for that 71.

Focus will also be on Lascuña, who moved within three at 216 after posting the other 69. He could’ve joined Jay Bayron in third but bogeyed two of the last four holes and slid to joint fifth with four others.

“My ball striking has been solid but poor putting continued to slow me down,” said Lascuna, who battled back from five shots down with three straight birdies from No. 2 and moved within one.

But he three-putted Nos. 15 and 17 and dropped to the 216 group.

Casas kept Salvador within sight with a 34 at the front but reeled back with three bogeys in the last nine holes for a 72.

TJ Kim fired the tournament best 68 for a four way tie for 12th at 218, including Sri Lankan Anura Rohana (70), Taiwan’s Chang Tse-peng (70) and Ernie Rellon (72).

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.