Ervin stays on course despite late stumbles in Manila

Tough luck: Gavin Green missed the cut at the Philippines Open.

PETALING JAYA: Two late bogeys saw golfer Ervin Chang drop a few spots down the leaderboard at the Philippines Open but the Malaysian remains on track for a strong finish heading into the final day in Manila.

Ervin finished the day at the Manila Southwood Country Club with an even-par 67 to see him tied in 16th with Thailand’s Tawit Polthai.

The 28-year-old Ervin held a steady two-under until the par four 16th hole, where he bogeyed before adding another stroke on the par five 18th.

Ervin remains the leading Malaysian on the field at the season-ending tournament, hoping for a strong finish on the final round today as he aims to secure his playing rights on the Asian Tour next year.

Ervin is currently 35th in the Order of Merit and needs to be in the top 65 after Manila to retain his full playing rights on the Asian Tour for 2027.

Meanwhile, compatriot V. Khavish recovered from a slow start yesterday with a double-birdie on the last two holes to card one-under 69 to be tied for 24th.

Ervin and Khavish are the remaining Malaysians on the field after Gavin Green and Marcus Lim missed the cut.

South Korean Song Min-hyuk stretched his lead from four to seven heading into the final round as he put himself in a good position for his second win on tour this year.

After a superb 10-under 60 on Friday, Min-hyuk shot a five-under 65 yesterday to be seven strokes ahead of Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut in second.

LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES

195: Song Min-hyuk (Kor) 70-60-65;

202: Sarit Suwannarut (Tha) 71-63-68;

203: Ham Jeong-woo (Kor) 67-70-66;

Selected

(Malaysians only)

207: Ervin Chang 70-67-70;

209: V. Khavish 71-69-69.