Marvin Dumandan surged to the top of the leaderboard in a thrilling third round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic in Davao City. Dumandan shot an even-par round of 72 to overtake joint leaders Justin Quiban and Nilo Salahog.
It was an unexpected result on the challenging South Pacific course, with its demanding greens. Dumandan, a Riviera pro, expressed his delight at leading the star-studded field, having not been in this position since his win in the 2009 Apo Classic. He remained optimistic and pressure-free, eager to continue his success.
Quiban, the two-time Philippine Golf Tour and PGT Asia champion, also hoped to regain the top spot. However, he struggled with his putting, resulting in a disappointing 75. He finished just one stroke behind Dumandan at 210, tied with local player Elee Bisera, who shot a solid 70.
The championship, with a prize fund of P2 million, promised to be a test of endurance on one of Sta. Lucia Realty’s top championship courses.
Gen Nagai, a Cebu-based Japanese player, gave himself a chance for his first victory with a second consecutive round of 70, including a second straight eagle on the par-5 No. 2. He was tied with Salahog, who had a difficult day with a 76. Defending champion Tony Lascuña had a strong start but struggled towards the end, carding a 72 to finish joint sixth at 212 with Keanu Jahns and Clyde Mondilla.
Elmer Salvador and Rupert Zaragosa were tied at 213 after shooting 71 and 75 respectively. Lloyd Go had the best round of the day with a 68, placing him tied for 11th at 214. Sean Ramos, Jhonnel Ababa, and Dino Villanueva were also at 214 after shooting 70, 71, and 73 respectively.
Quiban lamented his poor putting, which prevented him from scoring well. The challenging pin placements also played a significant role in the players’ struggles. Dumandan acknowledged the difficulty of the pin placements and emphasized the importance of accuracy. Bisera, despite struggling with his short game, was thrilled to have a shot at the title for the first time and hoped to improve his performance.
The final round promised an exciting battle for the championship, with Dumandan leading the pack but closely pursued by Quiban, Bisera, Nagai, and Salahog.
