Art Arbole recovered from back-to-back bogeys with birdie on No. 15, submitting a four-under 68 on Wednesday to stay in the lead after three rounds of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod.
Arbole moved to 10-under 200, one stroke ahead of Jhonnel Ababa, who also carded a 68.
Arbole, yet to win on the Philippine Golf Tour, suffered bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 but hit birdie on the 15th, where Ababa stumbled to a bogey after struggling with his approach.
‘I was a little pressured because it’s my first time leading a tournament,’ Arbole, who turned professional in 2012, said. ‘But I just stayed focused on my game.’
Arbole hooked his drive into the water hazard on the par-4 12th, then missed a 10-foot par putt from the bunker on the next hole, but quickly regained his groove.
‘Good tee shot, good second shot, good putt. Lucky birdie,’ he said about No. 15.
Ababa, meanwhile, struggled on his approach and needed extra work around the green and wound up with bogey.
‘I’m just going to enjoy it tang take it shot by shot,’ Arbole said.
The winner bags P448,750 from the pot of P2.5 million in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Jeffren Lumbo remained in third at six-under 204 after a 69, just four shots off the pace.
Rupert Zaragosa, seeking a third straight title at Marapara, carded a 67 to tie Zanieboy Gialon, who fired the day’s best round of 65, at 205.
Clyde Mondilla and Randy Garalde matched 69s for joint sixth at 207.
Aidric Chan shot a 67 to join Josh Jorge, who carded a 70, and Guido van der Valk, who slipped to a 73, at 208.
Angelo Que, the recent Summit Point leg winner and reigning Order of Merit champion, faltered with a double-bogey on No. 7 and struggled to recover on the back nine, closing with two bogeys against a lone birdie for a 71. The stumble left him tied for 21st at 213, 13 strokes off Arbole, effectively ending his title hopes.