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Thammanoon only one adrift in Japan

Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot stayed on course for a first victory on the Japan Golf Tour after a third round three-under-par 68 left him just one shot off the lead at The Golf Tournament at Omaezaki on Saturday.

The Asian Tour stalwart fired six birdies against three bogeys for his nine-under-par 204 total and trails Soushi Tajima, winner of the Asian Qualifying School in 2000.

Korea's Hur Suk-ho, known better as SK Ho, also stayed in contention in tied second place alongside Thammanoon and Paul Sheehan, thanks to a 69 courtesy of five birdies on the card.

Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, Korea's Kim Jong-duk and China's Liang Wen-chong were amongst those in tied 11th place on 207.

Minoza put together an impressive 65 that included five birdies and one eagle while Liang carded a second straight 70, dropping two shots over his closing four holes.

On the US PGA Tour, Korea's Choi Kyung-ju finished the third round of the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee in tied 15th place following a 69 for a 203 total. American Corey Pavin leads on 193.

It was a welcome return to form for Choi who missed the cut at the British Open last week, the third straight major that he has made an early exit this season.

India's Arjun Atwal, who was second after the first day, slipped back to tied 48th position after a disappointing 73.

On the European Tour, Thai star Thongchai Jaidee carded a third round 69 in the Deutsche Bank Players Championship in Germany for equal 31st place on Saturday. The two-time Asian number one fired five birdies on the card and has a three-day total of nine-under-par 207.

India's Shiv Kapur carded a 71 and was joint 46th with a three day total of seven-under-par 209 while compatriot Jyoti Randhawa carded a 73 and slipped to a share of 50th place.

Swede Robert Karlsson leads the tournament by two strokes from England's Lee Westwood with his 20-under-par 196 total.

July 29, 2006