CANLUBANG, Philippines — Juvic Pagunsan opened his round with a double bogey but hit three late birdies in a row for a second straight 69 and a one-stroke lead over Elmer Salvador in the P4.5-million The Country Club Invitational at the TCC course here Saturday.

In a day when the lead changed hands as fast as the putting surface of the dreaded par-70 layout, Pagunsan found himself in familiar place after three straight birdies starting on the par-5, No. 14.

Pagunsan had a 54-hole haul of 208 with Salvador close behind following a 69.

“I had so many chances but blew them,” rued Salvador in Filipino. “But I Iike my chances, just one stroke behind Juvic.”

Carl Santos-Ocampo joins the fancied duo in the championship flight today, also after a 69 for a 211, losing grip of the lead he had wrested after a brilliant eagle feat on the 14th that capped a stirring four-under card in a three-hole stretch from No. 12.

Jayvie Agojo, paired with Pagunsan and Salvador in the featured flight, bogeyed three of the last five holes for a 72 to retain the lead in the ladies’ amateur division.

Former champions Cassius Casas and Tony Lascuna stood seven strokes off Pagunsan at 215 after a pair of 71s.

Rufino Bayron, five shots behind the leaders at the start of the round, threatened in the early going with two birdies in the first four holes.

But the former national team standout, who won a pro tournament as an amateur in 2008, bogeyed four of the last 12 holes for a 72. He ended up with a 216 in a tie with Mars Pucay, who also had a 72, and Angelo Que, the defending back-to-back champion in the event put up by ICTSI chair and CEO Ricky Razon in honor of his late father, ICTSI founder Don Pocholo.

Que finally hit his stride after a pair of so-so rounds of 75-73, ramming in five birdies against three bogeys for a 68. He could’ve shot better and moved a little closer if not for his late bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18.

Artemio Murakami, winner here in 2009, stumbled with a 73 and dropped in a tie with Frankie Minoza, who had a second straight 72 with Anthony Fernando, who rallied with a 68.

With Pagunsan fumbling with a 6 on No. 1, Salvador banged in a birdie-putt from eight feet to surge ahead only to reel back with flubbed par-putts on Nos. 6 and 8. He stormed in front again with a birdie on the 12th but failed to match Pagunsan’s birdie-splurge from No. 14.

Santos-Ocampo shook the leaderboard in a flight ahead with his own version of brilliancy, birdying No. 12 and 13 before gunning down an eagle on the 14th. But he gave up the lead just as quickly, dropping strokes on Nos. 15 and 16 to settle for a 33 and 69.