John Michael O’Toole

CARMONA, Cavite – American John Michael O’Toole held up a bit after a hot 61 at resumption of his second round stint but his three-under 68 proved enough to shove him to the lead as the erstwhile frontrunners tumbled with faltering finishes in the topsy-turvy third round of the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship ADT at the Legends course here yesterday.

O’Toole birdied the last two holes at the completion of his weather-delayed second round to join fellow American John Jackson, Filipino Mhark Fernando and Thai Pijit Petchkasem at second behind Malaysian Gavin Green. But the winner of ADT’s PGM Clearwater Masters in Malaysian last February took charge at 13-under 200 as Jackson carded a 72 and dropped to joint ninth at 204 and Fernando fumbled with a 73 fell to a share of 12th at 205.

“I had a great start to the day coming back to birdie two of my remaining holes for Round Two and setting a course record for the first time in my golf career. That felt very good,” said O’Toole, whose second round 61 stood as the course record but on a par-71 setup.

“I got off to a slow start but I just keep grinding out there. I gave myself some good opportunities and made some putts for birdies. I am very happy with how I finished. You got to drive it well and hit your wedges well to score. Some of the par-threes are tough so you got to hit good iron shots too.

“I will try my best tomorrow. I know I have to play really well to win. I will stay aggressive and hopefully I can keep it rolling tomorrow,” added the 23-year-old O’Toole.

Pijit Petchkasem

Petchkasem did cling to joint second with a gutsy 69 for a 201, the same output put in by Thai Suradit Yongcharoenchai, who gunned down four birdies at the back for a 66.

But while Fernando failed to sustain a bogey-free stint after 45 holes and dropped out of the Top 10, rookie pro Jobim Carlos took the cudgels for the local bets with a five-under 66 to move up to solo fourth at 202.

“I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing after coach Carito (Villaroman) made some adjustments on my swing after I missed the cut at Luisita,” said Carlos, who shot a 67 and 69 in the first two rounds but only got into the mix with a 33 start. “But I have to be consistent, especially with my chipping and putting to stay in the contention.”

Just two off the pace, Carlos, one of the best players to have come out of the ranks, is very much in the thick of things, so does Keanu Jahns, who rattled off six birdies at the front before slowing down with a bogey-birdie stint at the back.

Jobim Carlos

But his 65 put Jahns in joint fifth at 203 with Poom Saksansin and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon of Thailand, who shot 66 and 67, respectively, and Green, who fended off his pursuers’ attack with a solid 32 at the front but fell back with a closing 40 marred by a double bogey and three bogeys for a 72.

That guarantees a wide, open battle for the top $10,500 purse in the $60,000 event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. with just three strokes separating eight players, three just four back and five more five shots behind, strokes that could be gained or lost at any given time on the bunker-laden layout.

Fernando did just that on the par-4 14th when he dumped his drive into the bunker, hit a wayward shot into the hazard, knocked in his fourth shot into the greenside bunker, reached the green in 5 and two-putted for 7, ending an impressive bogey-free run after 45 holes.

So stung was the former national champion that he dropped two more strokes on Nos 16 and 18 and signed for a 40 and a 73 and slipped to joint 12th with Thai Thammanoon Sriroj and compatriot Mars Pucay, who both shot 66s, and Japanese Kei Takahashi, who shot the day’s best 64, and Taichi Nabetani, who matched par 71.

Jhonnel Ababa also fired a 66 to tie Zanieboy Gialon, who had a 70, and Thai Natthapong Niyomchon, who carded a 69, at 206, while Miguel Tabuena also failed to score a follow up to his second round 66, shooting a 69 for a 207.

Tony Lascuna finished his second round with a 68 but could only churn out a third round 69 and stood way behind at 208 with 18 holes left in the event, the first of two Asian Development Tour legs backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade and Champion.