Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama fired a three-under 68 to stand on the brink of winning his second Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open title yesterday.
Maruyama, who won the title in 2009, posted a three-day total of eight-under 205 to take a one-shot lead over S.K. Ho of South Korea, who struggled with a 73 for a share of second place alongside Japan’s Michio Matsumura on 206.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger carded a 72 for fourth place, while Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan signed for a 70 to lie one back in fifth place at the ￥150,000,000 (US$1.7 million) event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. Maruyama, who started the day in equal fourth, dropped his first shot on his opening par-four first.
He quickly responded with birdies on the second and fifth, before another bogey on the seventh hole set him back to even-par for his outward-nine. The 40-year-old then charged back into contention with birdies on 10, 13 and 16 after the turn.
“I was trying to find my rhythm in the front-nine and thought that I could reach the turn in under-par as I wanted to keep the pressure on the leaders then, but my round really came to life in my back-nine where I was really feeling confident.” Maruyama said.
Overnight leader Ho was disappointed that he could not extend his lead after marking his card with four bogeys against two birdies.
“I just couldn’t find my form today. I made several bad drives and they were very costly. Hopefully I can play better tomorrow,” Ho said.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, who shot a 70 to be among the five players bunched in equal sixth, believes that he can overcome his four-shot deficit and make a charge for his second Tour title.
Prom endured a topsy-turvy start to his outward-nine with three bogeys against one birdie after the opening six holes.
He managed to turn his game around at the eighth hole where he saved par and then responded with birdies on holes 9, 10, 12, 16, before dropping another shot on the 17th.
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