Scott Strange leads after record round

Australian Scott Strange fired a course-record equalling eight-under-par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over Thai newcomer Chapchai Nirat after the third round of the US$300,000 Taiwan Open on Saturday.

Scott, winner of the Myanmar Open in February, was in sizzling form at Chang Gung Golf Club, shooting eight birdies for a three-day total of 13-under-par 203 to give himself a shot at a second Asian Tour title this season. He matched a long-standing course record set by Yu Chin-han of Chinese Taipei in 1987.

The 22-year-old Chapchai, enjoying a run of good form, moved into contention with a 66, thanks to seven birdies against a lone bogey. The well-built Thai enjoyed a great week at the Singapore Open last week, finishing 11th after being in contention for the week, and is still riding high in Taipei .

Australians Terry Pilkadaris, the Brunei Open champion, and rookie Adam Blyth will enter Sunday's final round two strokes off the pace after firing scores of 70 and 68 respectively. Overnight leader Chang Tse-peng of Chinese Taipei, compatriot Lu Wei-lan and Thailand 's Thaworn Wiratchant are tied on 206.

"I didn't drive the ball very well but I hit my irons pretty close," said Scott. "Whenever you shoot a 64 you've got to be happy. It's nice to tie the course record and we'll see how things go tomorrow."

The Aussie started strongly with birdies on the first and third holes before picking up four successive shots from the fifth. He holed an 18 footer on five, drained a 20-footer on six, two-putted for birdie on the par five seventh hole and rolled in from five feet on the eighth hole. At the turn, he shot two more birdies on the 11th and 16th holes.

"It could have been a bit lower but I'm still very happy. I played quite nicely in Singapore last week but got beat at some of the tough holes. I'll try to put in a good swing on my first tee shot tomorrow and take it from there," said Strange, who beat Thai star Thongchai Jaidee for his Myanmar triumph.

Chapchai was delighted to be in contention for the second straight week. In what is his rookie year on the Asian Tour, he birdied the third, seventh, eighth, ninth, 11th, 14th and 17th holes. He dropped a bogey on the fifth.

"I'm really enjoying it right now. I like the greens here this week and hopefully, I'll play well enough to have a chance of winning. It'll be great if I can pull it off," said the Thai.

Local hope Chang stumbled early on in his round, dropping bogeys in three of his opening four holes and conceded a double bogey as well on the par four 16th. But five birdies on the card salvaged his day and kept him in with a chance of landing his first Taiwan Open crown.

The Taiwan Open is the 18th leg of this season's Asian Tour, which is offering over US$20 million in total prize money.

Leading third round scores

203 - Scott Strange (AUS) 67-72-64

204 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 70-68-66

205 - Adam Blyth (AUS) 65-72-68, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 70-65-70

206 - Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 70-69-67, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 73-65-68, Chang Tse-peng (TPE) 67-67-72

208 - Brad Kennedy (AUS) 66-71-71, Edward Loar ( USA ) 69-68-71

209 - Kao Bo-Song (TPE) 67-74-68, Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 72-68-69, Ted Oh (KOR) 71-70-68, Hsieh Chin-Sheng (TPE) 71-70-68, Rick Gibson (CAN) 69-69-71, Lu Wen-hsyong (TPE) 69-69-71

210 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 72-72-66, Chen Tsang-te (TPE) 73-68-69, Lin Chien-bing (TPE) 69-72-69, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 75-64-71

211 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-71-67, Gilberto Morales (VEN) 72-70-69, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 73-69-69, David Bransdon (AUS) 69-71-71, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 69-72-70, Pat Giles (AUS) 65-75-71, Shiv Kapur (IND) 73-66-72

212 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-75-68, Chung Chun-hsing (TPE) 73-70-69, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 73-70-69, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 70-72-70, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 71-67-74

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page