SOUTH KOREAN-AMERICAN RECOVERS FROM QUADRUPLE BOGEY AT EIGHTH

KIM OVERCOMES A WACKY DAY TO 

LEAD AT THE ICTSI PHILIPPINE OPEN

 

Manila, Philippines: South Korean-American Chan Kim grabbed the third-round lead at the US$300,000 ICTSI Philippine Open, despite shooting a quadruple bogey on the challenging par-three eighth hole today.

Kim, winner of the 2013 Asian Tour Qualifying School, surprised even himself when he returned a 73 for five-under-par 211 to lead by one shot at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Overnight leader Marcus Both of Australia shot a disappointing 76 to share second place with Filipino Jay Bayron (69), the 2012 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner and Wang Jeung-hun (72) of South Korea in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna, Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij, a winner on the Asian Tour and Tour rookie Nathan Holman of Australia were a further two shots back in tied fifth on 214.

Kim was one-under for the day before heading into the eighth hole where his wayward tee shot landed 40 yards away from the elevated green. After hitting his second shot into a tree branch, Kim found himself in more trouble when his third and fourth shots landed inside the greenside sand trap.

He two-putted for a 7 and walked away with another bogey on 10. 

Despite the setbacks, Kim showed true grit to birdie 12, 13 and 15 to put himself in prime position to win his first Asian Tour title.

“It felt like I was playing mini golf on the eighth hole,” he laughed. “To be honest, I’m very surprised to be in the lead!  I didn’t think that five-under would be leading the tournament. I’m definitely shocked because I thought someone would shoot a low number.”

LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72) Yardage: 7,222

211 - Chan KIM (USA) 66-72-73.

212 - Jay BAYRON (PHI) 71-72-69, WANG Jeung-hun (SKOR) 72-68-72, Marcus BOTH (AUS) 70-66-76.

214 - Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 74-72-68, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 74-71-69, Nathan HOLMAN (AUS) 71-71-72.

215 - Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 79-67-69, HSIEH Tung-shu (TPE) 77-68-70, Jarin TODD (USA) 73-71-71, Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 74-74-67, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 66-73-76.

216 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 71-75-70, Anura ROHANA (SRI) 75-70-71, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 70-75-71, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 72-72-72, Mithun PERERA (SRI) 71-72-73.

217 - Ryan YIP (CAN) 72-73-72, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 75-70-72, Rico DEPILO (PHI) 76-68-73, Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA) 73-70-74, George GANDRANATA (INA) 72-76-69, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 72-70-75, Rupert SARAGOZA (am, PHI) 71-71-75.