Rianne Mikhaela Malixi moved just one shot off the pace, putting her in a good position to win the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship at the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand Saturday.
The 15-year-old Filipina, with Canadian coach Rick Gibson on the bag, mixed four birdies with two bogeys to shoot a two-under-par 70.
With a 7-under 209, Malixi trails Thais Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Suvichaya Vinijchaitham, Chinese-Taipei’s Huang Ting-Hsuan, and Chinese-Taipei’s Lim Jiyao by one shot.
Vongtaveelap climbed on top following a 68 while Vinijchaitham returned a 69.
Huang turned in a 70 while Lim shot a 72.
Mikhaela Fortuna, the only other Filipino survivor, carded even par 72 behind four birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey.
Fortuna was tied on 35th on 3-over 219.
Over in Japan, Justin de los Santos carded a two-under-par 70 in the third round of the Mynavi ABC Championship 2022 in Japan.
The 27-year-old Filipino collected six birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey to improve on 6-under 210, good for a share of 21st place.
Juvic Pagunsan was tied for 35th on 212 after shooting even-par 72 behind four birdies against four bogeys.
The 44-year-old veteran had a chance to go 1-under when he reached the par-5 18th hole in two, but three-putted for par.
Japanese Mikumi Horikawa was the clubhouse leader on 12-under after a 64.
Meanwhile, Yuka Saso rallied with three birdies coming home to salvage two-under-par 70 in the Toto Japan Classic at the Seta golf course in Shiga, Japan Saturday.
The 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese, however, remained in last place on 6-over 222.
Starting at the back, Saso shot an eagle on 16 and picked up two birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey to reach the turn on 1-over. She birdied 1, 4 and 5 and cruised without a bogey in the final nine holes.
Japanese Momoko Ueda took a one-shot lead over Gemma Dryburgh after a 68 for 14-under 202.
Dryburgh fired a 65 for 203, one shot ahead of Japanese Miyu Yamashita who had a 69.
