Anirban Lahiri and Aman Raj remained the leading Indians after returning matching level-par 70s in the third round of the Philippine Open at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.
The pair reached one-under 209 and shared 24th place heading into Sunday’s final round. Both began the tournament with identical rounds of 71 and 68 before consolidating their positions on Saturday.
Pukhraj Singh Gill recorded his second consecutive 70 to sit tied 32nd at level-par 210. The 2025 IGPL rankings champion, who has already secured his Asian Tour card for 2027 through the Asian Development Tour, is one stroke behind Lahiri and Aman.
Shaurya Bhattacharya endured a more difficult day, carding a four-over 74 to slip to tied 68th at seven-over 217.
At the top, South Korea’s Minhyuk Song tightened his grip on the season-ending US$1 million event with a five-under 65, stretching his overnight advantage from four to seven strokes.
Song, whose spectacular second-round 60 included an ace and another eagle, made six birdies against one bogey on Saturday. Gains on the 16th and 18th completed another strong finish and moved the 22-year-old to 15-under 195.
The Korean is chasing his second Asian Tour victory after winning the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May. Victory would also strengthen his claim to the Tour’s Rookie of the Year award.
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut carded a 68 to occupy second place at eight-under 202. His round included a costly double bogey on the ninth, leaving him with significant ground to recover.
Jeongwoo Ham shot 66 to move into third at seven-under 203, while Filipino Justin Quiban and Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit shared fourth at six-under.
Asian Tour rankings leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert returned a 69 to join Gill at level par. His nearest challenger, Travis Smyth, shot 67 but remains six strokes outside second place, the minimum finish he needs to retain a realistic chance of overtaking Pavit.
Photo – Asian Tour
