RP bets drop to 2nd, on track to earn golf world cup spot

The Philippines’ Angelo Que and Mars Pucay and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih-bing moved a step closer of earning berths in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup after pulling away from the rest of the 14 competing nations in the Asian qualifier held at the Seri Selangor Country Club in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

The Filipino pair carded a five-under-par 66 under the four-ball format for 198 in three days. However, they fell one stroke back from new leaders Mamat and Lam, who combined for a spectacular nine-under-par 62 for 197 to grab the upperhand for the first time in the four-day Asian Tour-staged event. Pucay and Que, who had a Top 10 finish in last year’s World Cup in China, started with a bogey on the second hole but bounced back on the inward nine, coming home in 31 despite a second dropped shot at the challenging 18th hole. “All in all, we are happy especially coming into the last few holes where we birdied four of the seven holes which was good except for the bogey on the last," said the two-time Asian Tour winner Que. “We are happy with a seven shot cushion over third place. If we keep playing how we are playing, we’ll be okay. We won’t think about protecting our score (in the final round foursomes) but will stick to our game plan which is to hit fairways and greens and try to two-putt at every hole," Pucay said. While the RP and Singapore bets were poised to nail the top two spots, the battle for the third and last slot will be the main focus in the final day. Seven shots adrift at 205 from the Philippines were Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Iain Steel, Hong Kong’s David Freeman and Wong Woon-man and Myanmar’s Zaw Moe and Soe Kyaw. Pakistan’s Muhammad Shabbir and Muhammad Munir lurks one shot behind the three teams to set up a nerve-jangling finish. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV