Thai falters, recovers to keep two-shot lead

STA. ROSA, Laguna  , Philippines  —  Tawit Polthai tumbled but recovered, Namchok Tantipokhakul survived and produced the day’s lone under-par card, and Clyde Mondilla hit a late eagle to get back in the title hunt.

In another punishing, yet action-packed day at The Country Club, the Thais moved 36 holes closer to finally scoring a breakthrough in the Solaire Philippine Open but Mondilla stepped up his own crack at history, together with young Fil-German Keanu Jahns, and a slew of others  who stayed within striking distance.

But out of the picture was perhaps the best local player in the fold as Juvic Pagunsan bombed out with a career-worst 86 marred by an 11 at the par-5 No. 10 to finish way down at joint 96th among the 131-player starting field at 19-over 163 and missed the cut at 158.

Polthai birdied the last two holes to salvage a four-over 76 for a 143 and regained a two-stroke lead over Tantipokhakul, who fired a 70 for a 145.

Mondilla eagled the par-5 No. 8 but missed grabbing a share of second with a bogey on the ninth. He ended up with a 75 for joint third at 146 with Jahns, who shot a second 73, Thai Nirun Sae Ueng (73) and Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia (par 72).

Except for one, over-par was the norm of the day given the wicked conditions at the TCC with the gale-force winds blowing from all over, forcing the bidders to adjust a club or two in tackling each shot at the long, risky Tom Weiskoph-designed layout.

At the end of the day, only Tantipokhakul turned in the lone under-par card of 37-33, marred by a closing bogey on the ninth, as he moved to second behind compatriot Polthai, whose strong finish saved what could’ve been a disastrous round for the Bangkok native, who stirred up interest with a flawless, eagle-spiked 67 Wednesday to wrest a four-stroke lead over Mondilla and two others.

Polthai groped for form while playing in one of the early flights, bogeying the first two holes at the back and spending the rest of the round either scrambling to save par or trying to se his spot at the top in the country’s premier championship sponsored by Solaire Resort & Casino for the third straight year.

He failed on the first but his closing back-to-back birdies from No. 8 enabled him to keep his hold of the lead, two strokes ahead of Tantipokhakul while Jahns thrust himself into contention despite another one-over par card.