Hoey in hot chase of PGA crown

MANILA, Philippines — Fil-Am Rico Hoey is knocking at the doors of a milestone triumph in the PGA Tour.

Spiked by an eagle-aided five-under 67 in the third round, Hoey goes into the final push for the ISCO Championship crown in Nicholasville, Kentucky merely one stroke behind leader Pierceson Coody.

Hoey, fresh off his sixth-place finish in the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detriot, has been playing the game of his life in the $4-million event, which is being held opposite the Scottish Open.

The 28-year-old Pinoy got things started with sizzling cards of 64 and 66 and he even went bogey-free at the Keene Trace Club until a one-over 5 in the par-4 No. 18 in Saturday’s Round 3 stained his flawless performance.

“I just kind of rushed the swing on the first tee ball and pulled it left,” Hoey was quoted by the Associated Press, talking about his first bogey of the week.

“It’s unfortunate that just one bad swing I made a bogey, but it’s golf so I can’t complain. I set myself up for tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes.”

Hoey, who previously represented the Philippines in the Putra Cup, is at 197 for the tournament and shares second with England’s Harry Hall, who shot a third-round 64.