Thailand’s rising star Panuphol Pittayarat fired a five-under-par 67 to secure a two-shot lead after the third round of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters yesterday.
Panuphol, 18, needed only 24 putts at the sun-baked Kota Permai Golf and Country Club to stay ahead of Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines, the tournament’s 2007 champion, who surged into contention with a flawless 66.
Australian Adam Groom (66) and Finland’s Joonas Granberg (70), who set a new course record 62 in the opening round, were a further two strokes back in tied third place in the Asian Tour event.
Photo: AFP/ASIAN TOUR/KHALID REDZA
With his father, Chinnawat, on caddying duty, Panuphol holed a 25-footer at the final hole for his seventh birdie of the day to lead on 13-under-par 203.
“I was putting great. My putter is on fire the past two days,” said the teenager, who credited his dad for a superb putting display.
“He’s good with the lines and he helps me think a lot out there. It’s a big help. He’s one of the best and I want to give him this [win],” said Panuphol, who described yesterday as his best-ever third-round. Malaysia’s S. Siva Chandhran climbed up the leaderboard with a solid 67 to share fifth place, five behind the leader, with countryman Nicholas Fung, Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, Australian Kieran Pratt and Bangladeshi Siddikur.
Second-placed Lascuna — 22 years older than Panuphol — enjoyed a chip-in birdie on the fourth and nailed a monster 75-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, giving himself the chance of a maiden Asian Tour victory. When he won the Selangor title four years ago, it was a local Malaysian event.
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