Taiwan’s CHAN ON FIRE
Play
TAIWANESE Chan Shih-chang fired an bogey-fee seven-under-par 63 to steal the limelight in the third round of the US$750,000 King’s Cup yesterday and he will take a one-stroke lead into today’s final round at the PTT-sponsored Phoenix Gold Golf and Country
In windy conditions, Chan, a bronze medallist in the 2006 Asian Games team event, sank four birdies on the front nine before adding three more on the back to lead at nine under at the par-70 6,698-yard layout.
“I’m very happy to return with a bogey-free round considering how windy it was today. Actually, I’m used to windy conditions coming from Taiwan and I’m familiar with such playing conditions,” said the 30-year-old, winner of five Asian Development Tour titles who finished second on the ATD’s order of merit in 2014.
“This is the best round I’ve played all season and I’m really pleased. I changed by putting stance and it really worked to my advantage the last three days. I’ve won five times on the Asian Development Tour and it’s my dream to win on the Asian Tour now.”
Hot on his heels is Eddie Pepperell of England who also carded a 63, matching Chan for the day’s lowest round. Pepperell had six birdies and an eagle (the sixth) with his lone bogey coming on the fifth. He sits at eight under with South African Jaco Ahlers who shot a third round 67.
“I got off to a hot start and hit the ball really well and gave myself tap-ins which made life really easy for myself,” said the 25-year-old Englishman from Abingdon whose best career achievement to date was second place at the 2015 Irish Open.
“It was a bit tougher on the back nine as it was quite windy and there are some tough holes. But I still felt I played well for most parts of the round there. So I’ll try to do the same again.”
Alhers, who won four titles on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, made five birdie – four on the front nine – against two bogeys for a 67.
“I didn’t finish as good as I wanted to unfortunately. I missed a short one on 15 and a bogey on 16 just rubbed it in. But I’m happy as I set a target of eight under when I started and I met it,” the 33-year-old said.
A stroke behind in joint fourth are Lionel Weber of France, after a 65, and Mark Foster of England who hit a 66.
Indian S Chikkarangappa fired his third straight 68 for a six-under 204 and is tied for sixth with Taiwanese Lin Wen-Tang, who shot a 69, and Australian Terry Pilkadaris, the overnight co leader who hit a 67. Johan Edfors of Sweden and Jason Knutzon of the US are in seventh place a stroke back.
Midway leader, Thai hope Sattaya Supupramai, paid the price for a fiasco on the par- 4 15th where he stumbled with a quadruple bogey before signing off with a 74 and a three-round total of four-under 206.
“I was doing OK until that hole. It was like destiny played tricks on me. I made some bad decisions but I tried to keep calm until the end,” lamented Sattaya, who still believes he is a chance of winning. “I can feel some drama here. I’m so motivated to shoot a low score tomorrow … I really want to win.”
Sattaya is in 11th place, five strokes behind the leader, with 17-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai, who shot an even-par 70 yesterday.
“I didn’t putt well. The wind made it difficult for Thais while European players are familiar with these conditions. I want to finish in the top five but if I cannot make it, it would be fine,” said the youngest player in the field.
