Van der Valk takes lead at Eagle Ridge

(UPDATE) GUIDO van der Valk lived through a grueling backside battle that tested every contender's mental toughness but emerged with his lead intact, holding a one-stroke edge despite carding a 75 in the third round of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship in Cavite on Wednesday.

On a wind-swept and unpredictable Faldo course, four bogeys in a birdie-less finish could have toppled the Dutchman from the top. However, with rivals also struggling against the stern conditions and relentless heat, van der Valk remained ahead in the P2-million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

"Whew, I'm tired," he said, slumping into his chair after a physically and mentally exhausting round that threatened to shake up the leaderboard but ultimately saw little movement.

Van der Valk holds a 54-hole aggregate of 221, with Sean Ramos trailing by just one shot at 222 after also posting a three-over round. Lloyd Go stood another stroke back at 223 following a 76.

But while the leaderboard remained mostly intact, Angelo Que surged into contention, setting the stage for a wild, unpredictable finish. The Pradera Verde leg winner clawed his way into the title hunt with a gutsy 72, ignited by early birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 12. A clean finish could have seen him tie van der Valk, but late bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 left him two strokes behind at 223 in a tie with Go.

Still, Que's momentum makes him a dangerous threat heading into the final round, where nerves, resilience and a little bit of luck will determine the champion.

With the course proving unforgiving even to the best-struck shots, van der Valk knows that a steady game alone may not be enough to seal the win.

"If I can just hit it solid tomorrow, it would be OK," he said. "But the problem is, you can hit good shots and still make bogeys. In the end, it's about who plays best — and who gets lucky."

Ramos, chasing his second PGT title after his Lakewood breakthrough last year, is bracing for the pressure of the final 18 holes.

"You can't avoid the pressure, but I'll just try to hit fairways and greens, and enjoy the moment," he said. TMT