Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat took a two-shot lead into the final round of the Asian Tour International tournament, after closing out the third round yesterday with a lucky eagle.
Kiradech’s total of nine-under 207 put him two strokes ahead of South Korea’s Hwang Inn-choon, who carded the day’s best score of 67.
Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing (71) and American rookie David Johnson (69) were a shot further back.
PHOTO: AFP/ASIAN TOUR
Kiradech, a 20-year-old former world junior champion, caught a break on the final hole when his tee shot hit a light pole and he was allowed to retake the shot with no penalty. From 225 yards out, he then hit a four-iron approach shot to within 10 feet of the pin, which set up his eagle.
“I’m very happy. I played great golf on the back nine,” said Kiradech, who is looking for his first victory on the Asian Tour. “On the front nine, I was struggling with my putts, but it came in on the back nine,” he said. “I got a lucky rule on 18. I hit the light post and I had to rehit it and got a good line on the second shot. If not for the rule, my first drive would have ended up in the 10th fairway.”
The 34-year-old Hwang, winner of the 2008 GS Caltex Maekyung Open on the Asian Tour, soared up the leaderboard with six birdies, steering in long putts on the 10th and 13th holes.
“My putting was good and I hit it all the greens in regulation on the back nine and holed a few long putts,” Hwang said. “I’m going to try and win this tournament.”
Lam also remained in contention, despite stumbling late with bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.
“It was a good way to finish with a birdie and still be within striking range,” Lam said. “It was blowing all day and it made it a lot trickier. Maybe I can mount a charge from behind.”
Johnson, who earned his spot in this season-opening event at qualifying school last month, began with a bogey, but then worked his way into a position to challenge today.
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