Juvic Pagunsan carded an even-par 71 to remain tied at 53rd place after three rounds in the ISPS Handa Gatsu-n to tobase Tour at the Miho Golf Club’s Champion course in Japan Saturday.
Pagunsan had a rollercoaster round of six birdies against the same amount of bogeys for a three-round total of 214. He had earlier rounds of 69 and 74.
The Tokyo Olympian struggled at the front nine where he had his four bogeys against birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 ninth holes, before picking up his pace at the back including two birdies on the last three holes.
Still, Pagunsan trailed 17 strokes behind solo leader Yuta Uetake along with five others.
Uetake tightened his grip on the top spot after blasting an eagle-aided 64 for a 197 three-round aggregate.
He shot an eagle 3 on No. 2 and fired six birdies against a lone bogey on No. 4.
With earlier rounds of 65 and 68, Uetake currently leads five strokes behind closest pursuers Hideto Tanihara (64), Taichi Nabetani (66), Kaito Onishi (66), Ryuko Tokimatsu (67) and Tomoyo Ikemura (68).
Meanwhile, Angelo Que missed the cut Friday after limping home with a 75 for a 144 two-round total.