Thai Tawan Phongpun surged past Spain’s Marcos Pastor despite a faltering finish, shooting a 67 and zeroing in on top honors in the 2019 PGT Qualifying School for foreign players at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas yesterday.
Phongpun actually bucked a shaky start and a wobbly finish with a sparkling run in a 12-hole stretch from No. 2 that saw him gun down seven birdies that cushioned the impact of his bogey-bogey struggle from No. 14.
But his 32-35 card proved enough to put him in the lead at 211 heading to the final 18 holes of the 72-hole elims where the top 17 plus ties will earn Category 6 spots in the 2019 Philippine Golf Tour starting fields of the circuit put up by ICTSI.
The rest of the 41-player field, which survived the 36-hole elims, will settle for Category 8 berths.
Pastor, who took charge after 36 holes with 70-71, rallied with two birdies in the last seven holes to save a 72 for 213 while Japanese Kenichi Iwao moved to solo third at 215 after a 70.
Sean Talmadge of the US shot a 71 for fourth at 216 while Kei Matsuoka, also of Japan, pooled a 218 after a 71 followed by Thai Kammalas Namuangruk, who carded a 73 to tie Japanese Kei Takahasi, who limped with a 76, at sixth at 219.
Joe Kawada and Issei Mori fired identical 70s to firm up their respective bids for full playing rights at 221 with Korean Park Jun Hyeok, who turned in a 75, and Andy Kang of the US, who stumbled with a 76.
The new PGT season kicks off on April 22 with the rich The Country Club Invitational.