FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Leader Poom has Siddikur snapping at his heels

Leader Poom has Siddikur snapping at his heels

Local young gun Poom Saksansin shot a 68 to grab a one-stroke lead over Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh after the third round of the US$300,000 Bangkok Airways Samui Golf Tournament at the Santiburi Samui Country Club yesterday.

The soft-spoken Thai carded four birdies against his first bogey of the week on the fifth hole for a three-day total of 12-under 201 to remain in contention for his maiden Asian Tour title.
“My putts dropped but my approach shots were either too short or too far from the pins. It was a pity to finally have a bogey. It would have been nice if I had kept my scorecard clean,” said the 21-year-old, who stayed at the top of the leaderboard for the third consecutive day.
As a first-time contender on the tour, the Chanthaburi native is on a unfamiliar territory and would have loads of pressure coming into the final round with two-time Asian Tour winner Rahman snapping at his heels after a flawless 64 yesterday. 
“I will try not to put pressure on myself. Of course, I’d love to win but if Siddikur still hits seven birdies like today, then it would be out of my control. I will still go out there and play my own game. If it doesn’t happen, then it’s okay. I still have plenty of years ahead of me,” said Poom, who is making his maiden appearance in the tournament.
Bangladeshi Rahman had seven birdies – on holes 7, 8, 11, 14, 16, 17 and 18 – for his best score on the 6,823-yard landscape. His three-day score was 11-under 202.
 “It was a bogey-free round. I hit seven great birdies. I’m happy to get back my putting. Today it was all about putting,” said Rahman, who won the 2010 Brunei Open and Hero Indian Open last year.
“I’m in good form and I’m very confident with my game. This is one of my favourite places. My golf career started here. I finished among the top 10 in 2010 and I have been playing good since,” added the 29-year-old, who a year ago took the third-round lead here only to come short in the final round and had to settle for eighth.
“I have good memories of what happened here last year. I played some really good golf. If I can hit more fairways and more greens, I think I will achieve my goal. I have to focus on my mental aspect. I’m really scared of these roughs as they are long for me,” added Rahman.
Despite an eagle on the sixth hole and four birdies, Thaworn Wiratchant, the 2012 champion, hit two bogeys on the 10th and 14th and had to settle for a 67 and third place with a 7-under 206. Also in third were Baek Seuk-hyun of South Korea, who hit a 71, and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon, 70. 
Chapchai Nirat, with a 69, took the lone sixth place with his 208. A stroke behind were the trio of Wang Jeung-hun of South Korea, Manav Jaini of India, and Richard T Lee of Canada, all with 209s.
 
 
 
 
 
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