Eagle-aided 67 sends Alido ahead

TARLAC, Philippines — Ira Alido moved on the threshold of a second Philippine Golf Tour win with an eagle-spiked 67, pulling ahead of the stellar pack as Frankie Miñoza holed out with a bogey for a 71 in a furious third-round battle in the ICTSI Luisita Championship here yesterday.

“Third day, moving day. I really need to get close to the leader to have a chance,” said Alido, who bucked a bogey on the first hole with a cluster of birdies and an eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 32. He slowed down with a two-birdie, one-bogey card at the back but it proved enough to shove him to the top at 208.

With his day’s best five-under card and an eight-under total, Alido didn’t only keep himself in the hunt for a follow-up to his come-from-behind win in Bacolod last March. He turned himself into being the hunted in what looms to be a wild finish to the P2-million championship.

Mars Pucay, once billed as the next Miñoza for his sterling amateur career, found himself within a stroke off Alido with a 68 that tied him for second at 209 with the Del Monte ace and defending champion. Miguel Tabuena, who fired a 69, and Jay Bayron stayed within striking distance at 210 despite falling off the joint lead with Miñoza after a 72.

Multi-titled Angelo Que and Michael Bibat trailed the joint leaders by four at 212 after a 70 and 73, respectively, while Fidel Concepcion, Dino Villanueva, Japanese Atsushi Ueda and Zanieboy Gialon stood another shot back at 213.