Fraser flows quietly to the top

A solid 70 by Marcus Fraser put him a stroke ahead of Anirban Lahiri after the third round of the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

The Australian, a two-time European Tour winner, did not waver under the windy conditions at the tricky layout, firing four birdies against two bogeys for a three day total of 5-under 211.

“Only a one-shot lead at the moment, which is almost irrelevant with the calibre of players that are on the leaderboard – Westwood and Kaymer and these guys. World-class players and it’s just nice to be up there with them. I’m excited to be in this position. Feel like I’ve played really well today. I have been playing really well for three days. So hopefully I can go out and do the same tomorrow and give myself plenty of chances,” said the 38-year-old, who won the European-Asian Tour co-sanctioned Ballantine’s Championship in 2010 in South Korea.

Lahiri was on fire, cruising through 13 holes with seven birdies and a bogey, which propelled him to the top of the leaderboard with six under par. But two bogeys on holes 16 and 18 halted his progress and the Indian had to settle for a 68 and a 4-under 212.

“I started out pretty good on the front nine. I made a lot of birdies, chipped and putted well. I’m just a little disappointed to throw it away because I didn’t finish well,” said Lahiri, who needs to finish strongly this week to prevent David Lipsky from winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.

A stroke adrift at joint third was PGA Championship and US Open winner Martin Kaymer of Germany who scored 70 for an overall 3-under 213.

“I would rather be two or one shot back. It is very important to take care of the sixth and seventh holes because you can score there. You need to take advantage of the par fives. 

If the putter is warm enough then I might have a chance,” said Kaymer, who shared third place with two Englishmen, the 2011 champion Lee Westwood and Friday’s leader Tommy Fleetwood, both after their rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.

Another Briton Simon Griffiths achieved what others failed to do by shooting a super-duper 66 (seven birdies against lone bogey on the 14th) which was the tournament’s best score this year for a 1-under 215 which placed him at seventh alongside Australia’s Scott Hend.

At joint 10th along with defending champion Sergio Garcia and South Korean Charlie Wie was Thongchai Jaidee, the best Thai performer who recovered from five disastrous bogeys on the front nine to shoot three birdies on the back before finishing with a 74. The trio shot 1-under 217.

 “I didn’t play well on the front nine as the winds were blowing stronger and the greens were faster than yesterday and the reposition of the pins were tougher. But I fought my way back to shoot three birdies to finish with a 72 which was not bad for a day like this,” said Thongchai, the world No 42 who rated the Amata Spring as one of the toughest in the world.

“I’ve played all over the world and admittedly this course plays really tough. I see my chance of a top five place, only if I can shoot a under par score tomorrow,” said the Thai No 1, who told the young fellow players not to get discouraged by their up-and-down form. 

His message was specially for Tirawat Kaewsiribandi who was playing in the same group yesterday. The 25-year-old from Khon Kaen flopped to a third-round 83 despite being in the top 10 coming into the weekend. “It was just the pressure and the expectations from everyone that made him nervous. 

“I want to tell all young Thais to keep trying. If it’s not happening this week, it will the next week,” Thongchai  said.

World No 7 Garcia shot a 71 and has a slim chance of retaining the title.

 “It’s really unfortunate as I feel like I’m not getting anything out of my game at the moment. I felt that I played quite nicely on the first day. I don’t know whether it is because it’s the end of the year where I’m mentally not that sharp enough. I feel that I’m dropping at least three or four shots. And under these conditions, you cannot do that,” added the Spaniard.

Tirawat dropped from fourth to joint 60th with a 225. Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thanyakon Khrongpha were at joint 21st with 219, four shots ahead of Bubba Watson.