Taiwan’s Lin leads in Manila
MANILA, April 13, (AFP): Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang held on to his lead in the third round of the Solaire Open in Manila Saturday despite dropping two shots in the last three holes.
Lin, a five-time Asian Tour winner, bogeyed holes 16 and 17 for a round of two-under-par 70, at the inaugural $300,000 event at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in the Philippine capital.
Thai veteran Thammanoon Sriroj was one shot down after a round of 71 that included five birdies and four bogeys, while countryman Pawin Ingkhapradit (71) and Elmer Salvador (71) of the Philippines were a further shot back.
Lin, 39, who has not won on the Asian Tour since 2009, said: “I don’t know if I can still win tomorrow because it has been a long time since I last won.
“I just want to enjoy the tournament. I will try and relax because I’m excited about my round.”
Thammanoon, 43, who is naturally left-handed but was pressured by his brothers to play golf right-handed, said he needs a proper game plan on Sunday.
“If you look at my score, you will know how inconsistent I was today. My head wasn’t in the right place,” said the Thai, who also has five Asian Tour titles, the last in 2004.
“I made many wrong club selections and that backfired on me. It was disappointing. I need to really plan my round.”
Scores after round 2 of the Solaire Open 2013 at the par 72, 7,222-yard Wack Wack Golf and Country Club: 212 — Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 69-73-70 213 — Thammanoon Sriroj (THA) 73-69-71 214 — Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 68-75-71, Elmer Salvador (PHI) 74-69-71
215 — Sam Cyr (USA) 76-70-69, Kim Gi-whan (KOR) 72-71-72
216 — Dodge Kemmer (USA) 66-79-71, Unho Park (AUS) 73-71-72, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 73-71-72. McIlroy said. “The eagle on the eighth really got me going. A 70 was a good score today. You had to be really disciplined.”
Dustin Johnson was a victim of tougher conditions, playing the last five holes in six-over after having led by two strokes.
Among those who missed the cut were South Korean Yang Yong-Eun, American Webb Simpson, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, South African Louis Oosthuizen and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington — all past major winners.