Jung Maintains Lead as PGT Q-School Battle Heats Up

Jaehyun Jung overcame a triple bogey on the 11th hole, bouncing back with a late birdie to salvage a 73 in another grueling round at the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School on Thursday.

Jung extended his lead to five strokes, moving closer to securing low medal honors.

Carl Corpus claimed solo second despite a 73 on another wind-blown day, while Chris Delos Santos fired a second straight 71 to tie for third with Japan’s Yuto Hayashi, who carded an even-par 72.

With one round remaining, the battle for the 30 coveted Tour cards remains intense in this 72-hole elimination event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., leading up to the 10-leg circuit starting Monday at Pradera Verde.

Jung, who built a four-shot lead over Ji Sung Cheon with a brilliant 67 on Wednesday, looked poised for another solid round after back-to-back birdies from No. 4. He quickly recovered from a bogey on the eighth with another birdie on the 10th, keeping his momentum.

However, the big-hitting 19-year-old ran into trouble on the par-5 11th, where he closed with a costly triple bogey. Another dropped shot on the 14th, his second straight bogey on that hole, further slowed his charge.

Despite the setbacks, Jung steadied himself with a birdie on the 15th, finishing with a 73 for a three-round total of five-under 211. He heads into the final round with a commanding five-stroke lead over Corpus, who sits at even-par 216.

“I thought I was playing against the wind when I set up for my tee shot on No. 11, but the wind shifted, and the ball ended up in the hazard,” Jung said of his triple bogey, which was compounded by a three-putt finish.

Despite the misstep, he remains confident, knowing he still holds a comfortable lead. Looking ahead to the final round, Jung plans to take a more aggressive approach.

“I played pretty conservatively over the past three days, but tomorrow, I’ll try to be more aggressive,” he said.

Delos Santos and Hayashi trail further behind at 219, eight shots off the lead.

Several local hopefuls strengthened their bids for spots in the Top 30. Paul Echavez fought back with a 71 to secure solo fifth at 220, while Japan’s Atsushi Ueda carded a 74 for 221. Amateur Jhondie Quibol slipped to joint seventh at 223 alongside Belem Arancon, who shot a 74.

Dan Cruz skied to a 78 after a 71 for 224, while two-time Q-School champion Toru Nakajima faltered with a 77, dropping to joint 10th at 225 with James Ryan Lam, who fired a 70, and Rey Pagunsan, who struggled with a 77.

John Michael Uy made a move with a 71, leading the group at 226 that includes Tom Marcelo (75), Brunei’s Qawim Aslimon (76), and Josh Jorge (77). First-round leader Ji Sung Cheon endured a tough day with an 85, dropping to joint 17th at 227 with Carlos Packing (73), Chon Koo Kang (77), and Ivan Monsalve (78).

Luis Bagtas, who opened with an 85, continued his comeback with a 71, adding to his previous 72 for a total of 228. He is tied for 21st with Korea’s Tae Won Kim (75), Japan’s Junichi Katayama (76), and Jonas Magcalayo (77).

Amateur Paolo Wong carded a 74 for joint 25th at 229 with Emilio Panimdim Jr. (76) and Japan’s Kota Fukuyama (80).

While Jung remains in control for the top spot, the battle for the last few Tour cards remains fierce. GJ Katigbak and Anthony Fernando are tied at 28th at 230 after rounds of 75 and 76, respectively.

Tied at 231 are Kai Yasuma (77), Yudai Nakakuki (78), Myung Chal Hwang (80), and Taewon Ha (81), while at 232 for joint 34th are Richard Sinfuego (75) and Angelo Anzuris (80), both aiming for a late surge in the final round.