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Pagunsan charges into four-shot lead at Asian Tour finale

Rising Filipino star Juvic Pagunsan raced into a four-shot lead at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia after a masterful six-under-par 66 yesterday.

The joint overnight leader maintained his superb form at the Thai Country Club, sinking seven birdies against a lone bogey to lead Scotsman Simon Yates, who battled into contention with a 67 in the US$750,000 Asian Tour finale.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng kept alive local hopes by moving into joint third place with a 68 on a day compatriot Chapchai Nirat conceded defeat to China's Liang Wen-chong in the fight for the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit crown.

Needing a win to have any chance of toppling Merit leader Liang, Chapchai carded a 71 to slip 10 shots off the lead in tied 13th place while his Chinese rival fired a 74 for equal 30th position.

ROOKIE

Pagunsan, last season's Rookie of the Year, put on another breathtaking exhibition of golf, roaring home in 31 with five birdies.

Since winning his maiden title at the Pertamina Indonesia President Challenge in October, the 29-year-old's confidence has soared and he is now looking to bag the Masters of Asia title.

"My confidence is getting stronger and stronger every day. Today I hit really good drives ... I did not expect to shoot 31 on the back nine as it is really hard," said Pagunsan, who has a three-day total of 15-under-par 201.

Thai-based Yates got into gear early by turning in 32 and kept the fuel pumping by grabbing an eagle on the par five 14th hole, drilling a three wood from 284 yards out to 25 feet of the pin. A bogey on the 16th saw him slip four back of Pagunsan.

"That [eagle] was nice as the hole was 610 yards long. I gave it a good rip up the green," Yates said.

THAI HOPES

With Thai defending champion Thongchai Jaidee fading out of contention with a disappointing 77 which included an outward 43, local hopes were resting on Prayad.

"My putting wasn't really very good today but the irons were solid. I had a good front nine but then struggled on the back nine. Both Juvic and Simon are great players," he said.

Big-hitting Chapchai threw in the towel in his hopes to end the year as Asia's new No. 1 after a round which included three birdies against two bogeys.

"I cannot win the Volvo Masters of Asia now. I have never really targeted the Order of Merit," Pyayad said.
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