STA. ROSA, Laguna — Guido van der Valk surged past a competitive field with a composed and calculated performance, firing the day’s best two-under-par 70, highlighted by an eagle and a monster birdie putt, as he wrested a two-stroke lead Thursday in the third round of The Country Club (TCC) Invitational.

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 also aimed for a charge, starting 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 managed to recover and 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.

He dominated Go by five strokes in the 2023 edition of what has become the Philippine Golf Tour’s premier event, three years after narrowly edging out Mondilla by one.

Despite holding a two-stroke advantage, the Manila-based Dutchman remained cautious about his chances of securing a record-tying victory in the P6 million championship held in honor of ICTSI founder Don Pocholo Razon.

“This golf course is difficult to dominate because mistakes are easy to make and birdies are hard to come by. Everyone is facing the same challenges,” Van der Valk said. “I’ve been lucky to win it twice, but that doesn’t guarantee I’ll do it again. There are too many great players in contention.”

His pivotal moment came on the par-5 No. 10, where his 4-iron second shot from 220 yards found the green but rolled to the back. He then executed a brilliant chip-in for eagle, launching him into the lead.

“It wasn’t the toughest chip, but as soon as it landed, I felt I had a chance — and I was lucky it rolled in,” Van der Valk said.

After surrendering the lead with a bogey on No. 15, Van der Valk reclaimed control in dramatic fashion, sinking a stunning 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. The putt, initially appearing to roll past the hole, found just the right break to drop in.

That set the stage for an intense showdown against his determined challengers, all vying for TCC Invitational glory.

Go, meanwhile, managed two birdies on the front nine but failed to record another on the back, hindered by two bogeys for the second consecutive day.

“The finishing holes are tough, at least for me,” Go said. “But being two or three shots behind is still manageable. Everyone makes bogeys.”

Mondilla’s struggles continued after a wayward drive on the tight par-4 No. 4 led to a triple bogey. A double bogey on the 16th further dimmed his hopes, though he remains within striking distance of the P2 million top prize.

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.

Keanu Jahns and Kakeru Ozeki also matched 76s for a joint eighth-place finish at 224.

Meanwhile, Jhonnel Ababa and Albin Engino returned 75s, joining Nilo Salahog, who stumbled with a 78, in 10th place at 226.

Defending champion Tony Lascuna failed to mount a comeback, remaining at 227 in a tie for 13th with Daiya Suzuki, who posted a 74, while three-time TCC winner Angelo Que also had a tough day, marred by a triple-bogey seven on No. 7, finishing with a 77 and dropping into a share of 15th place at 228 alongside Asian Tour rookie Sean Ramos and Hyun Ho Rho, both of whom posted 76s.