Que cards 70, shares third in Macau Open

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que carded a one-under-par 70 yesterday and moved up to a share of third place with one round left in the $750,000 Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club.

The Filipino bet had previous rounds of 68 and 68 and while he failed to match those rounds he was able to jump from a share of fourth the other day to a share of third.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar continued to tow the field with a 69 following a tournament-best of 63 and a 68. He now has a three-day total of 200.

Que is at nine-under for the tournament and with a 204 remained in striking distance. In second is Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong (69-202) and also at 204 is Aussie Scott Hend after a 69.

Que birdied the par-5 No. 2 but found trouble at par-4 No. 5 which he triple-bogeyed, followed by a bogey at the par-3 No. 6.

The Filipino shotmaker, however, put them all behind with a birdie at No. 9. In the back nine he was steady with three birdies at Nos. 10, 11 and 13.

Over in Japan, Juvic Pagunsan wavered with two bogeys in the last seven holes and settled for a one-under 70 spiked by an eagle-3 on No. 6, moving to within two shots of Tetsuji Hiratsuka in the third round of the Japan Open at Golf Club Naha in Okinawa Prefecture.

Pagunsan actually went three under with an eagle on the sixth and a birdie on No. 10 but the Filipino ace flubbed a couple of par putts from six feet on Nos. 12 and 18 for that 70 and a 54-hole output of 218.

Hiratsuka also faltered with two bogeys on the last four holes in another windy day and hobbled with a 73 for a 216, just two strokes ahead of Pagunsan and Komei Oda, who carded a 72 for a 218, heading to the final 18 holes of the event.