Song Min-hyuk leads by 7 shots, on verge of first Korean win at Philippine Open in 53 years

Song Min-hyuk fired back-to-back rounds of brilliance to seize a seven-shot lead at the Philippine Open, the Asian Tour's season-ending event with a $1 million purse.

Playing Saturday at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club's Masters Course (par 70) in Carmona, Cavite, Song carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 65, moving to 15-under 195 for the tournament and stretching his advantage over second-placed Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand to seven shots. A victory Sunday would make Song the first Korean to win the Philippine Open since Kim Seung-hak in 1973 — a gap of 53 years.

Song had torched the course Saturday with two consecutive eagles and a hole-in-one on his way to a 10-under 60, and he carried that momentum into the third round, where he refused to let the field close in. He made four birdies through the 10th hole before a three-putt bogey on the 11th, his only blemish of the day, but bounced back with birdies on the 16th and 18th to finish strongly.

According to Philippine daily the Daily Tribune, Song saved par all four times he missed a green and needed only 27 putts. He held his composure through sweltering heat early in the round and rain over the final five holes to maintain his lead without wavering.

"I tried to enjoy the round by drawing on the good memories from the previous day," Song told the Asian Tour. "My iron play was not quite what I hoped for early on, but my putting was solid, and my iron game came around in the back nine," he added.

Song claimed his first Asian Tour title at the GS Caltex Maeil Business Open in May, and a win Sunday would give him two victories this season while also clinching the Rookie of the Year award. Asked about the pressure of entering the final round with such a commanding lead, he was relaxed. "I tend to sleep deeply," he said. "I think I'll be able to fall asleep without any trouble."

Fellow Koreans also continued to impress. Ham Jeong-woo shot a 4-under 66 to sit alone in third place at 7-under 203. The winner of the Singapore Open in April, Ham acknowledged the gap at the top. "Song's game is simply on another level," he said. "I'll focus on competing for second place rather than chasing the leader."

Kim Min-gyu also fired a 5-under 65 to move to 5-under 205, sharing sixth place. The Philippines' Justin Quiban and Thailand's Sarut Bongchaisit are tied for fourth at 6-under 204. Shaun Ramos of the Philippines, playing to the delight of the home crowd, carded a bogey-free 6-under round to join Kim and others in the group tied for sixth.