Van der Valk chalks 70, grabs solo lead

STA. ROSA, Laguna , Philippines – Guido van der Valk shouldered himself past a competitive field by firing the day’s best of two-under-par 70, highlighted by an eagle and a monster birdie putt, as he wrested a two-stroke lead in the third round of The Country Club Invitational on Thursday here.

Starting the day four strokes off the pace at sixth spot, Van der Valk vaulted to the top at one-over 217 after first day co-leader LJ Go faltered with two bogeys in the final seven holes, settling for a 74 and a 219.

Halfway leader Clyde Mondilla started strong with a birdie on the par-5 second hole. However, back-to-back setbacks – a triple bogey and a bogey from No. 4 – halted his momentum. He briefly tied Van der Valk with a birdie on the 10th, only to slip again with a costly double bogey on the 16th.

A final-hole miscue left him with a 77, dropping him to third place at 220, now three shots behind the leader.

This enabled Van der Valk, who turned 45 last Sunday, to seize the lead against the very players he had previously defeated to claim his first two TCC Invitational titles.

Aidric Chan and Reymon Jaraula endured identical rounds of 76, tying for fourth at 221, just four shots off the pace. Minwook Gwon carded a 73, catching Jay Bayron, who struggled with a 77, at 222. Defending champion Tony Lascuña was at 227 in a tie for 13th.