Thai talent Chapchai Nirat kept his pace in the third round after a solid four-under-par 68 for a five stroke lead at the TCL Classic on Saturday.

The 23-year-old stalwart fired seven birdies against three bogeys for an impressive 21-under-par 195 at the Yalong Bay Golf Club. Chapchai was two strokes off the mark in matching the Asian Tour’s low 54-hole record of 23-under-par 193 held by David Howell and Ernie Els.

But it was a surging run by Chapchai who had previously equaled the two-day record in Asia after a 17-under-par 127 total on Friday.

Chapchai, who is ranked 25th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, is now riding high with a five stroke lead over Englishman Mills Tunnicliff who leaped to second place after a 65 in the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event. Also in tied second place was Japan’s Taichi Teshima who scored a bogey-free 66 while Argentina’s Rafael Echenique shot a 68 in fourth spot six strokes adrift in the US$1 million tournament.

Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh fired a similar score in lone fifth position for a 202 total while China’s Liang Wen-chong, last week’s winner in Singapore, shot his best round of 66 and was tied in sixth place alongside Australians Adam Blyth and Brad Kennedy together with English duo of Oliver Fisher and James Heath on 203.

Eager for his maiden triumph on the Asian Tour, Chapchai took charge with three birdies on the front nine and was on a roll with three straight birdies on the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes before a dropped shot on the 14th. He recovered with a birdie on the 16th but endured a slow finish dropping shots in his last two holes.

“I made a mistake on the last couple of holes. The wind was up and my driving let me down,” said Chapchai.

“I was thinking that shooting a 69 today would be alright, so I’m happy with a 68. I think if I can reach 25-under tomorrow, that should be good enough to win,” he added.

With an eagle at the 16th hole, Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, will be banking on a breezy day on course heading into the final round.

“I played really solid again today. I haven’t been playing great but the last two days, I’ve found some form and started holing some putts. I’ve given myself a chance,” said Tunnicliff.

“I hope the wind stays up tomorrow, because I play pretty well in the wind, and let’s just see what happens,” he added.

Teshima, who won on the Japan Golf Tour last year, was pleased with his round after firing six birdies.

“I wasn’t playing well coming into this week, but my short game is working out pretty well, I’ve got up and down so many times,” admitted Teshima.

“I went to European Tour qualifying school and got my card, so I’m playing mainly on the European Tour this season. This is my third tournament and I’m enjoying it,” added the Japanese talent.

England’s Nick Dougherty was in tied 11th after a 69 together with compatriot Lee Westwood who shot a 68 and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng who carded a lowly 65 for a 204 total.

Leading third round scores

195 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 61-66-68
200 - Miles Tunnicliff (ENG) 70-65-65, Taichi Teshima (JPN) 69-65-66
201 - Rafael Echenique (ARG) 64-69-68
202 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 65-69-68
203 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 69-68-66, Oliver Fisher (ENG) 67-69-67, James Heath (ENG) 72-63-68, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 67-67-69, Adam Blyth (AUS) 67-66-70
204 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 71-68-65, Kane Webber (AUS) 67-71-66, Gary Rusnak (USA) 67-70-67, Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-70-68, Pelle Edberg (SWE) 71-64-69, Nick Dougherty (ENG) 69-66-69, Simon Nash (AUS) 67-66-71
205 - Peter Fowler (AUS) 69-68-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-68-68, Ashley Hall (AUS) 67-69-69, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 68-68-69, Francois Delamontagne (FRA) 73-62-70, Richard Lee (NZL) 65-70-70
206 - Iain Steel (MAS) 71-68-67, Carl Suneson (ESP) 66-68-72, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 67-66-73

March 17, 2007

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