Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat is well positioned to win his first Asian Tour title after taking the joint third-round lead with Welshman Rhys Davies at the Maybank Malaysian Open yesterday.
Kiradech, 20, birdied three of his last four holes for a four-under 68 and a three-day total of 11-underr 205 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Davies tied the Thai rising star with a battling 71, which included three birdies against a double-bogey.
The final round of the US$2 million co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event is poised for a photo finish, with two-time champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (69), Soren Hansen of Denmark (69) and South Koreans K.J. Choi (69) and Noh Seung-yul (67) a shot behind the leaders on 206.
The hefty Kiradech, a former junior world champion, nearly sank the first hole-in-one of the tournament when his six-iron tee shot on the 15th ended an inch behind the hole. Although disappointed to not win a car on offer, it sparked a stunning finish as he went on to birdie 17 and 18.
“My ball striking has been improving and that has played a part in my good performance. I missed a couple of putts on the back nine, but I’m happy with the way I finished,” Kiradech said.
The big-hitting Kiradech hopes it will be third time lucky today as he has led twice previously going into the final round of an Asian Tour event, only to miss out with the finish line in sight.
Davies, who played 25 holes yesterday, rallied with two birdies on the front nine. After a double-bogey on 10, that was a result of an errant drive into the water hazard, he fought back with a birdie on 17 and then missed a makeable birdie chance on the last for the outright lead.
Reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Thongchai mixed his card with five birdies against two bogeys to return with a 69.
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