2007 Volvo Masters of Asia - Round 3: Pagunsan opens four shot lead with brilliant 66

Filipino rising star Juvic Pagunsan raced into a four-shot lead at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia after a masterful six-under-par 66 on Saturday.

The joint-overnight leader maintained his superb form at Thai Country Club, sinking seven birdies against a lone bogey to lead from Scotsman Simon Yates, who battled into contention with a 67 in the US$750,000 Asian Tour finale.

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng kept alive local hopes by moving into joint third place with a 68 on a day compatriot Chapchai Nirat conceded defeat to China’s Liang Wen-chong in the fight for the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit crown.

Needing a win to have any chance of toppling Merit leader Liang, Chapchai carded a 71 to slip 10 shots off the lead in tied 13th place while his Chinese rival fired a 74 for equal 30th position.

Pagunsan, last season’s Rookie of the Year, put on another breathtaking exhibition of golf, roaring home in 31 with five birdies. Since winning his maiden title at the Pertamina Indonesia President Challenge in October, the 29-year-old’s confidence has soared and he is now looking to bag the Volvo Masters of Asia title.

“My confidence is getting stronger and stronger every day. Today I hit really good drives – (I hit them) really, really well. I did not expect to shoot 31 on the back nine as it is really hard,” said Pagunsan, who has a three-day total of 15-under-par 201.

With the formidable Yates leading the chasing pack, Pagunsan is not taking his big lead for granted. “Yesterday I also played well, almost the same as today. I think tomorrow I will focus (carefully) on what I am doing. I will try to prepare well mentally,” he said.

Thai-based Yates, who has a penchant for car racing, got into gear early by turning in 32 and kept the fuel pumping by grabbing an eagle on the par five 14th hole, drilling a three wood from 284 yards out to 25 feet of the pin. A bogey on the 16th saw him slip four back of Pagunsan.

“That (eagle) was nice as the hole was 610 yards long. I gave it a good rip up the green,” said Yates, who is eyeing a third Asian Tour victory.

The slightly built Scotsman put a new driver in his bag this week and says it has served him well. “I finally quit on my five year old TaylorMade 510 driver and picked up the Burner. It is very long and it makes the course play a lot easier as you’re just hitting little shots going in,” said Yates, who has gained over 15 yards in distance.

With defending champion Thongchai Jaidee fading out of contention with a disappointing 77 which included an outward 43, Thai hopes were resting on Prayad. But Prayad knows he must regain his touch on the greens on Sunday to overcome a five shot deficit.

“My putting wasn’t really very good today but the irons were solid. I had a good front nine but then struggled on the back nine. Both Juvic and Simon are great players. Juvic putts really well while Simon is long and is good on the par fives,” said Prayad.

Big-hitting Chapchai threw in the towel in his hopes to end the year as Asia’s new number one after a round which included three birdies against two bogeys.

“I cannot win the Volvo Masters of Asia now. I have never really targeted the Order of Merit. I am happy that people were talking about me having a chance of overtaking Liang but I was not thinking about that. At the start of the season I was looking to finish in the top 10 and at the start of this week I was in second spot,” said Chapchai.

The Thai birdie machine endured a dry day on the greens and blamed an errant driver. “I did not drive the ball well today – I only hit two fairways. If you cannot hit fairways you cannot score,” said the 24-year-old, who led the birdie category heading into the week with 292 ‘birds’.

“I am really pleased with my year – I have had two wins which is better than I expected.”
Mark Brown of New Zealand carded a 70 to tie Prayad in third place on 206 while England's Chris Rodgers was fifth after a 70. Overnight co-leader Scott Hend of Australia dropped off the pace after a 74.

Leading third round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

201 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 70-65-66
205 - Simon Yates (SCO) 69-69-67
206 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-71-68, Mark Brown (NZL) 70-66-70
208 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 70-68-70
209 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 70-68-71, Scott Hend (AUS) 68-67-74
210 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 69-72-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-70-69, Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 72-68-70, Angelo Que (PHI) 70-68-72, Prom Meesawat (THA) 70-67-73
211 - David Gleeson (AUS) 72-74-65, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-72-69, Adam Blyth (AUS) 72-69-70, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 71-69-71, Gavin Flint (AUS) 70-68-73, Scott Strange (AUS) 65-71-75

Selected scores:
216: Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 70-69-77
217: Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 72-71-74

December 8, 2007