Wood test for local Thailand Open hopefuls

The strapping 1.96-metre European Tour regular, making his first appearance on OneAsia, fired a five-under-par 67 around the 6,471 metre (7,077 yard) course for an 18-under tournament total of 198 – a stroke ahead of Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (68).

Thailand has not produced a home winner of the National Open since Boonchu Ruangkit won his second in 2004, but overnight leader Prom Meesawat (72) and Wisut Artjanawat (71) are well in the hunt three shots behind the leader, along with Korea’s Lee Dong-hwan (67) and Aussie David McKenzie (70).

Wood, 24, turned professional in 2008 after finishing fifth in the Open Championship and then stunned the golf world by bettering that the following year. A bad bounce on the 18th at Turnberry left him with a par putt to make a play-off with Stewart Cink and Tom Watson, but he left it agonisingly short and had to settle for joint third. Wood has two top-three finishes on the European Tour this year, but is still seeking his first professional win. A shot further back, Chan is surprised he is in Thailand at all – never mind challenging for the title.

Overnight leader Prom is seeking to emulate his father Suthep, who in 1991 became the first of only two Thais to win their national Open championship – despite the Kingdom producing some of the region’s best players since the tournament started in 1965.

“The dream is still alive,” said Prom, after a birdie on the last saw him finish level for the day and 15 under.

“It was great to finish with a birdie, that pleased me. I am still hitting the ball well so if I can hole the putts I can score as well as the first two rounds.” Boonchu, who now plies his trade on various senior tours, has an unlikely chance to claim a third title after three rounds in the 60s left him four off the lead. “I normally play three rounds [on the Seniors Tour] so I should be heading home now,” he joked.