2006 Crowne Plaza Open - Round 3: Chinarat regains lead with fighting 68

Thai teenager Chinarat Phadungsil charged back to the top of the leaderboard at the Crowne Plaza Open on Saturday with a third round four-under-par 68 leaving him on the brink of a second Asian Tour title.

Driven by the memory of his late coach, the 17-year-old prodigy pulled two shots clear of compatriot and reigning Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant and Australian Unho Park at Yalong Bay Golf Club.

Thaworn carded a matching 68 as he bids for a record ninth Asian Tour victory while Singapore-based Park, searching for a maiden title, continued his amazing revival from a poor first round, shooting a 66 for tied second place.

Two dropped shots over the closing three holes saw Adam Blyth of Australia settle for a 70 to lie three behind the talented Chinarat but it was a struggle for overnight leader Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, who stumbled to a 74 with a triple bogey and two bogeys over his last six holes.

"There was a lot of pressure out there during the last three holes but I feel confident of winning this tomorrow," said Chinarat, who has a three-day total of 15-under-par 201. "If I can shoot another four under round, that should be good enough."

The former world junior amateur champion turned in 31 with another breath-taking iron display but struggled on the homeward stretch when the winds picked up. Chinarat sank two more birdies against three bogeys, including dropping one at the last when he missed a two foot par putt.

Chinarat, presently 30th on the UBS Order of Merit, is the youngest winner on Tour following his stunning triumph at the Double A International on home soil last November. He said victory on Sunday would be equally special as he wants to win to honour his swing coach Bud Kareeput, who died last month.

"It could be close but I've got a good caddie in Manop Santhiap, who normally caddies for Chawalit Plaphol. He calms me down out there and he's a big help," said Chinarat.

After a record season in 2005 where he won four times, Thaworn is itching to get back into the winner's circle but conceded that his young compatriot and regular practice partner is a special talent.

"I don't think there's pressure on him as he's already won before on Tour," said Thaworn, 12th on the UBS Order of Merit. "Chinarat can certainly win this but whenever I play every week, my intention is also to win. I didn't have the best of starts but on the back nine I played better with four birdies.

"A good week here will mean starting my second half of the year nicely. Compared to this time last year, I'm still hitting the ball just as good but I'm not making enough of putts."

Park, one of the most colourful characters with his flamboyant dressing, has bounced back superbly from a sluggish 73 on Thursday, shooting 64 and 66 over the last two days. A double bogey on 17, after he took two shots to escape thick rough, threatened to derail his chances but Park kept his hopes alive with a wonderful birdie at the last, dropping in a 15-foot curler.

"If I show the kind of form of the last couple of days, I should be up there. Chinarat is obviously playing well but you have to go low. Anything less than 20-under par won't win it. I've got to put my finger into it," said Unho.

"It was really nice to birdie 18 after that double bogey. The pin on 18 was on a slope and I was thinking of just two putting it (for par). It was very quick and I just touched it. You've got to pick the correct line which I did. I got a bit lucky."

It was a day Lin would prefer to forget after relinguishing his lead with a poor finish. He stumbled with a costly eight, dubbed a "snowman" in golf, on the par five 13th after finding water with an errant drive and taking three putts. He compounded matters with two closing bogeys.

"I got unlucky. I missed some fairways by just a few yards and landed in the rough. My hand hurts now after being in the rough on so many occasions. But four shots back is nothing on this course. I can still win it," said Lin.

India's Amandeep Johl, Anthony Kang of the United States and Australian Robin Hodgetts share sixth place on 206, all still in with a crack at the Crowne Plaza Open title. Johl settled for a 70 and was disappointed that he did not build on his strong start where he turned in three-under.

"I had it going but I missed a six-footer for birdie on nine and then missed another small putt for bogey on 10 and that kind of stopped my momentum. I then drove into the water on 13. I made some good shots and some bad ones but you'll never know. On this course, you can shoot a good number."

Title holder Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand slipped out of contention after a disappointing 75 left him in joint 31st position.

Leading third round scores

201 - Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 65-68-68

203 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-67-68, Unho Park (AUS) 73-64-66

204 - Adam Blyth (AUS) 67-67-70

205 - Lin Wen-Tang (TPE) 67-64-74

206 - Anthony Kang (USA) 74-68-64, Robin Hodgetts (AUS) 67-71-68, Amandeep Johl (IND) 67-69-70

207 - Alistair Presnell (AUS) 71-71-65, Anton Haig (RSA) 71-69-67, Yasin Ali (ENG) 71-69-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-71-67

208 - Garth Mulroy (RSA) 70-71-67, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 69-71-68, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 71-67-70

209 - Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 72-70-67, Ron Won (USA) 67-72-70, Kao Bo-song (TPE) 69-69-71

210 - S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 70-72-68, Anthony Brown (AUS) 72-70-68, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 71-72-67, Wu Wei-huang (CHN) 69-70-71

211 - Digvijay Singh (IND) 68-74-69, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 70-70-71, Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 70-69-72, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71-72-68, Shabbir Iqbal (PAK) 67-72-72, Ross Bain (SCO) 67-72-72, Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 69-69-73, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 68-70-73

212 - Martin Rominger (SUI) 70-72-70, Barry Hume (SCO) 74-68-70, Angelo Que (PHI) 69-74-69, Yuan Hao (CHN) 72-71-69, Somkiet Srisanga (THA) 71-69-72, David Freeman (HKG) 74-70-68, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 68-69-75

August 19, 2006

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page