Pornanong on threshold of history

Pornanong Phatlum kept the Thai flag flying at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, firing a dazzling 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the US$2 million Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia yesterday.

The 24-year-old from Chaiyaphum drilled six birdies on the front nine before swapping two birdies with two bogeys on the back-nine to finish the third round with a total of 14-under 199, three ahead of Japan’s Ayako Uehara.

“I was playing really well at the beginning. Everything I hit just went into holes as if the holes were drawing the ball into them. This is the week that all my shots worked really well,” said Pornanong, who started the day three behind South Korea leader Ryu So-yeon.

The Thai ace, in fact, was up 16-under after 10 holes until she missed a three-foot putt for her first bogey of the day on the 12th hole. She shared the lead with Ryu until she made her second bogey on the 16th. However, Pornanong recovered brilliantly to pick up a birdie on the 17th while the South Korean finished with back-to-back double bogeys for a 72.

“I hit bogeys on two par five holes and lost confidence a bit. But I kept telling myself to be relaxed and I tried to concentrate on my game,” added the world No 32 Pornanong, who will try to become the first Thai to claim a LPGA trophy. 

Pornanong has been through this situation before when she was a co-leader after third round of the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida last year before ending up third, losing to China’s Feng Shanshan by two strokes. 

“I’m going to be a bit nervous tomorrow but I hope I will get it this time. I wish this was a three-day event and I would have won already. However leading by three strokes doesn’t guarantee much as anyone can shoot a low score any day. I just have to stick to my game and try not to compete with anyone,” said Pornanong, whose best run in a LPGA Tour event was a runner up in the Airbus LPGA Classic in Alabama last year.

A shot behind Uehara at tied third were South Korea Chella Choi, 68, China’s Feng Shanshan, 69 and Lydia Ko of New Zealand, 70, each with a total 203. 

Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn produced the lowest score of the day with a 64 which propelled her from 35th to seventh with an overall 9-under 204 along with South Korea’s Lee Ilhee and Choi Na Yeon.

Elder sister Moriya hit a 73 for a 1-under 212 to take the 36th position, a stroke ahead of Thidapa Suwannapura at tied 41st.

 

Laird leads Frys.com Open

Scotland’s Martin Laird fired a second straight five-under-par 67 to grab a one-shot lead after two rounds of the US PGA Tour’s $6 million Frys.com Open in Napa, United States.

Laird, a three-time winner on the US tour, had a 10-under total of 134 and a one-stroke lead over first-round co-leader Bae Sang-Moon of South Korea and American Zach Blair.

Bae followed his first-round 66 with a 69, while Blair carded a 66 for 135.

Laird hit just six fairways, but he needed only 26 putts and was delighted with his performance in the opening event of the US tour’s 2014-15 season.

“You never know how you’re going to play after seven weeks off like I’ve had,” Laird said. “Played very solid, very solid 67s. I’m extremely happy.”

Scott Langley vaulted up the leaderboard with a six-under 66 and was tied for fourth on 136 with Sweden’s David Lingmerth (68) and fellow American Mark Hubbard (65).