Kim, Lascuña gain lead

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon – Young Kim Joo Hyung took over from compatriot Lee Song, birdying two of the last four holes to fire a four-under 68 and catch veteran Tony Lascuña at the helm in the third round of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship Friday here.

Kim, who has dominated the country’s amateur championships the last two years, cashed in on a two-shot swing on the closing par-5 to tie Lascuña at eight-under 208 after the multi-titled Filipino shot-maker holed out with a bogey for a 69.

With the next six players just one to three strokes behind, Kim and Lascuña said they would need a five-under card to foil their pursuers for the top P550,000 purse in this fourth leg of the circuit.

“I think, it’s 50 percent for a 13-under overall. But to be sure, I would need a 14-under total to win,” said the 16-year-old Kim, the reigning Philippine Amateur Open champion.

“For me, a four- or five-under tomorrow will do it,” said Lascuña, who missed grabbing the solo lead with an errant second shot and a poor blast that led to a bogey on the last hole.

“But I like my chances although it’s too close to call.”

Song threatened to pull away with three birdies in the first six holes. But the 19-year-old shot-maker from Gangneung fumbled with three bogeys in a six-hole stretch from No. 7 then mixed two birdies with the same number of bogeys in the last five holes for a 72.

He slid to second with American Nicolas, who slowed down with a 71 after a second round 68, at 209, just one stroke behind the new leaders while Lexus Keoninh, also of the United States, carded a 70 to move to solo fifth at 210.

With Korean Kim Sung Wook rebounding with a 69, Michael Bibat shooting a 71 and James Ryan Lam hobbling with a 73 for identical 211s, the title chase is expected to be fierce.

“I’m terribly disgusted with my game. I couldn’t putt and missed so many greens unlike in the first two rounds,” said Lee.