Damien Jordan fires 3rd eagle, takes control

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Rookie PGT Asia campaigner Damien Jordan sustained his eagle spree in another hot, windy day, hitting a third one to save a 71 and grab a one-stroke lead over comebacking Michael Bibat and a steady John Michael O’Toole of the US in the third round of the ICTSI Riviera Classic yesterday.

Jordan came through with a sensational eagle feat off the fairway bunker on the par-4 15th, his third in two days that somehow cushioned the impact of the Aussie’s three-putt miscue on the par-3 No. 17. It also sent the battle for top $17,500 purse wide open the way it was in the kickoff leg of the second PGT Asia at Luisita last month.

That late-hole bogey and a 71 netted Jordan a 54-hole aggregate of four-under 209, just a stroke up on Bibat, who bounced back from a second 75 with a 69, and O’Toole who turned in his third straight 70 for identical 210s at the Langer course.

“It was so hot I’m happy to end the day. I’m also glad to be up there in the leaderboard,” said Jordan, who tied for fifth in the PGTA Q-School but skipped the ICTSI Luisita Championship.

 Bibat also rebounded from an error-filled second round with a five-birdie effort that negated a bogey and a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 eighth.

Like Bibat, O’Toole is also looking forward to a big weekend, shrugging off a last-hole bogey that cost him a share of the lead in the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Second round leader Erwin Arcillas, meanwhile, skied to a 77 after back-to-back 68s but was later disqualified for using non-conforming wedges.