AUNZO EDGES CLOSER TO VICTORY IN ANCORA CLASSIC
Posted on December 2, 2011 by Gopy | Categories: News, Press Release | link
Jakarta, December 2:
Filipino Ferdie Aunzo opened up a commanding five stroke lead after the third round of the Ancora Classic presented by PGN today.
In the season-ending event on the ASEAN PGA Tour the 32 year old, who has led after each round, shot a one-under-par 71 for an impressive 11 under par tournament total.
Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Pravee Visalkit and Malaysian Khor Kheng Hwai lie in second place. Gunn fired a 68 at Emeralda Golf and Country Club while Pravee and Khor both returned 72.
Malaysian Nicholas Fung, who finished second in the last two ASEAN PGA events and is third on the Order of Merit, came in with a 70 and is a stroke further back.
Aunzo led by four at the start of the day and initially let the chasing pack draw closer after he double bogeyed the par five second.
However, he battled back to make the turn in level par before coming home in one under.
“The second hole was my first big mistake this week. I made sure it did not affect me and I just carried on as if it had not happened. I am playing well but mistakes will happen. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s final round which will be a good test,” said Aunzo.
The former Philippine Amateur Champion had a two shot lead going into the final round of the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship on the Philippine Golf Tour last week but shot a disappointing 82 on the last day.
He plans to draw from that humbling experience as he bids for his first win on the ASEAN PGA Tour and only his second win since turning professional in 2008.
Rookie professional Gunn, aged 19, lit up the scoreboard with a flurry of birdies to move into contention. He was six under par after 13 holes before the wheels came off and he bogeyed 15 and 17.
“It was almost a perfect round but I messed up at the end. I hit out of bounds on 17 which was disappointing,” said Gunn.
The young Gunn from Pattaya is a close friend of Panuphol Pittayarat, nicknamed “Coconut”, who is currently lying in joint third place in the Hong Kong Open. Panuphol is a graduate of the ASEAN PGA Tour and has been friends with Gunn since the age of seven.
Gunn turned professional this year and manages his golf schedule while also studying marketing at University in Thailand.
Former amateur star Choo Tze Huang, who turned professional this week, fired a 74 to lie eight shots behind Aunzo.
The Singaporean, a two-time winner of the individual title in the Putra Cup, was just five behind at the start of the day but after a birdie on the second he lost his was with bogeys on five, 13 and 15.
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat, who has already secured the Order of Merit title by winning the previous two events, carded a 73 and is two over for the tournament in a tie for 27th place.
Leading third round scores:
Par 72
205 – Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 66 68 71
210 – Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 70 72 68, Pravee Visalkit (THA) 68 70 72, Khor Kheng Hwai (MAS) 67 71 72,
211 – Nicholas Fung (MAS) 72 69 70
212 – Michael Bibat (PHI) 74 69 69, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 70 72 70, Pawin Ingkhapradit(THA) 72 67 73
213 – Choo Tze Huang (SIN) 69 70 74, Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 71 69 73
214 – Mitchell Slorach (SIN) 70 73 71
215 – Sattaya Sapuppramai (THA) 75 69 71, Mohd Rashid Ismail (MAS) 70 73 72, Lu Tze Shyan (TWN) 71 74 70, Tanatchan Puaktes (THA) 72 69 74, Pasamet Pogamnerd (THA) 72 69 74, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 68 73 74. (SW)