Samanodi pulls away; Chan hobbles at the finish

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DAVAO. – Kuresh Samanodi underscored his readiness for a triumphant return to the Philippine Golf Tour, taking a commanding four-stroke lead despite a 73 as Aidric Chan wavered at the finish in the third round of the Philippine Golf Tour Q-School here Thursday.

Despite enduring a four-bogey setback in hot, windy conditions, Samanodi hit a clutch birdie on the seventh and gunned down an eagle on the par-5 No. 12, his 38-35 round not only cushioning the impact of his first over-par card in three days but enabling him to pull away from the chasing pack with a four-under 212 total.

“I think my score today was okay,” said Samanodi, who norms 290-300 yards off the mound. “Marami kasing missed shots at missed putts. But I’m okay with the 73.”

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Chan, four strokes behind Samanodi halfway through the 72-hole eliminations granting 30 slots in this year’s PGT unfolding at Apo Golf next week, momentarily took control with a three-birdie binge from No. 7 for a 33. However, challenges at the backside of the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates course, including bogeys on Nos. 10 and 16 and a double-bogey finish, resulted in a 40 and a 73.

“Some of the greens are slow. I had a 30-40 birdie putt on No. 16 and three-putted,” said Chan, who also muffed a birdie opportunity on the next.

“On No. 18, I hit it over the fence and ended up with another three-putt,” said Chan, who remained optimistic about transitioning smoothly from his decorated amateur career to the professional ranks with a 216 total.

“I just have to clean up some mistakes and give myself a chance for more birdies,” he added.

Korean amateur Min Hyeok Yu likewise seemed poised to clinch his PGT card with a 217 after a 72, alongside former national team mainstay Kristoffer Arevalo and Japanese Ozeki Kakeru, who tied for fourth at 218 after 70 and 72, respectively.

American amateur Drew Proctor, just a shot behind Samanodi last Wednesday, limped home with a birdie-less 79 but is also likely to gain his card with a 219 total for solo sixth with Japanese Toru Nakajima (71-220) at seventh, followed by Joseph Labaho (76-222) and Korean Chon Koo Kang (73-223).

Ramil Bisera and Gwon Minwook, also from Korea, matched 75s and 224s for joint 10th heading to the last 18 holes of the elims where the Top 30 will earn Category 6 status. Those outside the Top 30 will be placed in Category 7. A playoff will be held in case of a tie at No. 30.

 

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