Pawin sits pretty after a blistering 66
FIRST ROUND leader Pawin Ingkhapradit moved into contention again, shooting a third-round 66 to grab a two-shot lead over teen sensation Phachara Kongwatmai in the Bt5.3 million Singha Masters at Santiburi Country Club yesterday.
On a day when overnight leaders Tawit Polthai and Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol struggled with their game and plummeted down the leaderboard to be tied ninth and 17th, the 25-year-old surged through with seven birdies and a lone bogey for a 14-under 202.
“My tee shots were a big factor today. I felt really down about my game on Friday. I changed my gameplan on the eighth hole [where he triple-bogeyed on Friday) by teeing off with my two-iron to save par today. After I parred that hole, I felt relieved and I got in the groove,” said Pawin, who won the Hua Hin Open two years ago in the All Thailand Golf Tour.
“I will try to keep my cool in the final round. The biggest goal for every golfer is to win a tournament. I have to be really focused on my game,” said the golfer from Chanthaburi, a protege of Thai golf legend Boonchu Ruangkit.
Phachara Kkongwatmai
Teen prodigy Phachara, who caused a sensation at the start of the season with two runner-ups spots in the Singapore Open and Handa World Super 6 Perth, is breathing down Pawin’s neck by shooting his third straight 68 for 12-under 204.
“I set a target of hitting four-under every day and I did it. I started the round quite well and hoped to shoot lower today but I made some mistakes,” said the 18-year-old, who surprised the world by reaching the final of the match play Super 6 before losing to Australia’s Brett Rumford.
Phachara, who turned pro at only 14, the youngest in Thai history, is eyeing his first win on the All Thailand Tour this year after reigning supreme in Khon Kaen in March last year.
“The margin is not too big so several guys are still in contention. I need to play smart in the final round, have to be aggressive when I need to and avoid taking unnecessary risks. But if the final hole is going to decide the winner, then I may go for the shot.”
Tawit shot a 74 for a 208 while Chanachok stumbled to a 76 for 210.
On the women’s side, Pajaree Anannarukarn fired a 71 for six-under 210 to grab a two-stroke lead over Saranporn Langkulgasettrin in the third round.
