The race for the championship in the Aboitiz Invitational Presented by ICTSI has come down to two Davaoenos as Elmer Salvador put up a one-stroke lead over Tony Lascuna with a six-under par 65 in the third round yesterday at the Cebu Country Club in Banilad.
At stake today in the final round will be the top cash prize of $11,375.
Salvador will have a slim advantage as he holds an eight-under 205 heading to today’s fourth round of this Asian Development Tour event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.
Lascuna had a masterful round with a bogey-free 66 but is behind in second place with a 206.
Salvador actually had a shot at a two-stroke lead but his initial drive went awry. He compounded matters by missing on his par-putt from 12 feet away to allow Lascuna to come close.
The two golfers were at it all day long with Salvador threatening to break away by making birdies on the first two holes.
But Lascuna was unfazed and struck back with an incredible eagle-putt from 12 feet to tie the score again.
They remained tied with pars in the next five holes before Salvador moved up again by two with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9. He erected a three-shot lead with another birdie on the 10th but Lascuna made back-to-back birdies from No. 11, only to fall behind by two again as Salvador birdied the 17th.
In far third place was Elmer Saban, another bet from Davao City, who is seven shots away with a 67, good for 213.
Englishman Grant Jackson shot a 69 yesterday to emerge the leading foreign player at 216 in a tie with Ruben Sasutil and Ebarra Quiachon, who made a 68 and 73, respectively.
Defending champion Jay Bayron failed to make a third round charge with a four-over 75 and slipped to joint eighth at 217, 11 shots off Salvador.