BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng maintained his tight grip on the Chiangmai Golf Classic with a six-under-par 66 in the penultimate round yesterday to open up a five-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
The 47-year-old, who has led on all three days at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, mixed six birdies and an eagle with two bogeys for a 54-hole total of 18-under-par 198.
Prayad’s countryman Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Matthew Stieger, who continued his bogey-free streak, were at 13-under 203 in the $750,000 event in Thailand.
Y. E. Yang, the first Asian man to win a major, was among six players a shot further behind, while four-times major winner Ernie Els of South Africa carded a six-under-par 66 to move up to tied 15th place.
The smooth-swinging Prayad, whose round was highlighted by a chip-in eagle on the seventh hole, briefly lost his touch with two consecutive bogeys on the 15th and 16th hole but regained his composure with a birdie on the 17th.
“I have a five-shot lead now and I will play steadily and not be aggressive,” Prayad, chasing his seventh title on the Asian Tour, said.
“I think the pressure is on those chasing me. They need to have a good front nine or else they won’t be able to catch up with me.”
“I made mistakes but it doesn't matter. I was careless on 16 but I still think I have a very strong advantage.”
Thongchai, ranked 59 in the world, hit five birdies against two bogeys in the third round and needs a win on Sunday to have a chance of qualifying for the Masters in two weeks' time.
“I think the problem was my putting and reading the lines,” the three-time Asian No. 1, said.
“I hit a lot of good shots but the greens are killing (me). They are tough to read. Prayad played so well. He dropped a couple of shots but he came back.”
“He likes the course and he's in form. He's got a good chance. I'll try my best but I'll need luck tomorrow.”
Japan's Yokoo takes one-shot lead in Jakarta
Meantime, Japan's Kaname Yokoo will go into today's final round with a one-shot lead and no real expectations after the journeyman golfer carded a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in the penultimate round of the Indonesia PGA Championship yesterday.
Yokoo, who played without a glove despite the heat, birdied the last hole to lead at 15-under-par 201 in the $1 million tournament co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour.
The Australian duo of Scott Strange and Aaron Townsend were among the six players trailing the leader from one shot behind at the Emeralda Golf Club in Jakarta.
Yokoo remained modest about his chances on Sunday, having exceeded his expectations.
"I have no pressure and I'm not nervous because I don't think I will be able to win this tournament," said the 40-year-old five-time winner on Japan Tour.
"My shots are sometimes good and sometimes bad. Tomorrow I'll just try to keep up as my target was actually top 20," said the golfer who has also played on U.S. PGA Tour.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand stayed in the hunt with a six-under-par 66 for an 11-under-par total and a share of 14th place.
