Guido van der Valk emerged with his lead intact, holding a one-stroke edge despite carding a 75 in the third round of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship in General Trias, Cavite, on Wednesday.
On a wind-swept Faldo course, four bogeys in a birdie-less finish could have toppled the Dutchman from the top. But with rivals also struggling against the stern conditions, van der Valk remained ahead in the P2 million championship.
“Whew, I’m tired,” he said after a physically and mentally exhausting round.
Van der Valk holds a 54-hole aggregate of 221, with Sean Ramos trailing by just one shot at 222 after also posting a three-over round. Lloyd Go stood another stroke back at 223 following a 76.
But Angelo Que surged into contention, setting the stage for a wild finish. The Pradera Verde leg winner clawed his way into the title hunt with a gutsy 72, ignited by early birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 12. A clean finish could have seen him tie van der Valk, but late bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 left him two strokes behind at 223 in a tie with Go.
Still, Que’s momentum makes him a dangerous threat heading into the final round, where nerves, resilience, and a little bit of luck will determine the champion.
With the course proving unforgiving even to the best-struck shots, van der Valk knows that a steady game alone may not be enough to seal the win.
“If I can just hit it solid tomorrow, it would be okay,” he said. “But the problem is, you can hit good shots and still make the end; it’s about who plays best—and who gets lucky.”
Ramos, chasing his second PGT title after his Lakewood breakthrough last year, is bracing for the pressure of the final 18 holes.
“You can’t avoid the pressure, but I’ll just try to hit fairways and greens and enjoy the moment,” he said.
Despite an early spark with two birdies in the first four holes, bogeys at Nos. 13, 15, and 16 cost him a share of the lead.
Go, also hunting a second PGT trophy after his Palos Verdes win, is counting on a cleaner round to stay in contention. He rued a costly double bogey on No. 11 but remains confident that an even-par finish could be enough to win the top purse of P360, 000.
“Whoever stays patient and avoids big mistakes will win,” Go predicted. “Tomorrow, I’ll aim for even par and see if that’s enough.”
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