2006 Bangkok Airways Open - Round 3: Lu moves three ahead

Lu Wen-teh stayed firmly on course to retain his Bangkok Airways Open title on Saturday, opening up a three-shot lead after overcoming a triple bogey in his third round of one-over-par 72.

The Chinese Taipei veteran, who leads on five-under-par 208, dropped a 25-foot putt for birdie at the last hole to signal his intention for back-to-back success on a sun-baked Santiburi Samui Country Club.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat stumbled with three closing bogeys for a 72 for tied second place with Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who returned a 74 in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Deaf-born Korean Lee Sung battled to a 70 for tied fourth place alongside Canadian veteran Rick Gibson, who shot a 71 to lie four back on 212. Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, the reigning Asian number one, endured a nightmarish start with two double bogeys and a bogey in his opening three holes before salvaging a 72 to remain on the fringe of contention on 213.

"I'm happy with the lead," said the 43-year-old Lu. "If I shoot even par tomorrow, I will have a good chance to win this tournament. It was tough out there again with the winds making it difficult and I was happy to finish strongly."

After a birdie on the first, Lu, who won last year's title in a play-off, tripped up with a triple bogey seven after hooking a drive into trouble. He bounced back with three birdies on the ninth, 16th and 18th with two more dropped shots on 13 and 17.

Lu said his 25-foot conversion at the 18th was crucial. "It was a big putt as it gave me a three-shot lead into tomorrow."

Prayad, a five-time Asian Tour winner, was marching left and right with a poor driving display as he mixed his card with three birdies, a bogey, double bogey and triple bogey. He plans to use his old driver on Sunday.

"Lu played nicely as he hit it straight and putted really well," said the Thai, who is seventh on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit. "But three shots back is nothing on this course. I played badly as I drove it left and right. There were too many poor shots in the round and I even hit a 'shank'," said Prayad.

Singapore's Mardan was swapping lead all day with Lu in the final group, and was two-under for the round with three holes remaining. But lapses in concentration saw him drop bogeys over his last three holes with missed putts from close range on 16 and 17 and finding trouble on 18 from off the tee.

"The course set up was tough, especially when some of the tees were moved back," said Mardan. "You've got to respect the golf course. I lost a bit of concentration towards the end of the round and that was it for me," added Mardan, who won the co-sanctioned OSIM Singapore Masters earlier this season.

Gibson gave credit to his 14-year-old son Karl, caddying for the first this week, for keeping him on an even keel following a poor start where he was two-over through 11 holes. But birdies on 15 and 16 from seven and 12 feet pushed the Manila-based Canadian into contention.

"I missed a short putt on two and I got quite angry with myself. Maybe I had a bit too much energy this morning. I guess the angry spurt took a bit of the edge off and I played pretty good after that.

"I thought he (Karl) was the emotional one. His emotions were as flat as a pancake and he's holding me in there. I just need to remember we're playing a game and not to take yourself too seriously as if you get angry, you'll loose concentration."

Only four players broke par in the third round at the challenging par-71 Santiburi layout. Thaworn had the worst of starts, soaring to five-over-par in his opening three holes. But the reigning Asian Tour number one fought back with five birdies and has not discounted his title hopes.

"Anything can happen on this course," said the 39-year-old, who won four titles in a record-breaking season last year. "I went double, double, bogey in my first three holes but I'm happy that I fought back. I wasn't angry at all with my bad start and I hit some good shots after that to keep the round going.

"We had some really tough pins out there and the winds were always tricky. If it's like this again tomorrow, I think four-under-par total could be the winning number."

Leading third round scores

208 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 68-68-72

211 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-70-74, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-69-72

212 - Lee Sung (KOR) 71-71-70, Rick Gibson (CAN) 69-72-71

213 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-73-72

214 - Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-70-73

215 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 74-73-68, Chen Yuan-chi (TPE) 74-73-68

216 - Garth Mulroy (RSA) 72-75-69, Iain Steel (MAS) 66-78-72

217 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 73-70-74

218 - S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 73-71-74, Michael Wright (AUS) 73-70-75, P. Gunasegaran (MAS) 73-69-76, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-70-76, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 72-68-78

219 - Gavin Flint (AUS) 74-74-71, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 72-73-74

220 - Digvijay Singh (IND) 81-67-72, Park Jun-won (KOR) 72-73-75, Rashid Ismail (MAS) 75-70-75, Anthony Kang (USA) 73-71-76, Unho Park (AUS) 71-71-78

221 - Simon Nash (AUS) 74-77-70, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 74-74-73, Li Chao (CHN) 70-76-75, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 72-73-76

222 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 72-74-76, Banlue Maneerat (THA) 71-76-75

223 - Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 73-78-72, Amandeep Johl (IND) 75-76-72, Martin Maritz (RSA) 72-75-76, Scott Barr (AUS) 78-70-75, Ted Oh (KOR) 72-73-78, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 71-72-80

June 10, 2006

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