Ramos closes in on Asian Tour card after 70

MANILA, Philippines -- Sean Ramos zeroed in on a coveted Asian Tour card, delivering a determined performance with a 70 at the demanding C/D course of the Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, on Friday.

Despite slipping from solo third to joint 12th in the early rounds and eventually to a share of 12th after four days, Ramos' impressive 11-under 273 total placed him firmly within the Top 35, closer to a much-anticipated Asian Tour card for next season.

This marked a significant improvement for the 20-year-old Filipino rising star, who narrowly missed qualification last time with a 39th-place finish.

Ramos attributed his success to perseverance and the refinement of his all-around game, honed through competitions on the Asian Development Tour and the Philippine Golf Tour. A breakthrough win last June bolstered his mental and physical preparedness, enabling him to tackle the grueling five-day qualifiers across two courses.

While Ramos made a strong push, he virtually bowed out of the race for low medalist honors, laying eight strokes behind new leader Takumi Murakami, who surged ahead with an eagle-studded 65, posting a 265 total.

Former leader Kyungnam Kang followed with a 70 for a 267, while Yosuke Asaji and Doyeob Mun shot 67s, and Taiki Yoshida posted a 69 as they shared third place with matching 269s.

Among other Filipino contenders, Carl Corpus barely made the second cut, finishing tied for 63rd with a four-under 280. His final round included two birdies and two bogeys for a 71, leaving him with significant ground to cover in pursuit of a Top 35 spot.

Aidric Chan, however, fell short, carding a 73 marred by three bogeys against a lone birdie, ending his campaign with a 283 total.

Ramos, however, remained undeterred, focusing on securing a full-season stint in the region’s premier circuit. He opened the final round with a birdie on the first hole, added another on the 11th, and kept his Top 10 hopes alive. However, a bogey on the 14th slightly hindered his momentum, and he closed with four pars for a one-under card.