Mardan Mamat holds on to narrow advantage

Singapore 's Mardan Mamat maintained his overnight one-stroke lead in the US$1 million OSIM Singapore Masters on Saturday with title holder Nick Dougherty of England breathing down his neck.

Mamat endured a shaky finish en route to a two-under-par 70 in the third round, dropping two closing bogeys at Laguna National Golf and Country Club for a three-day total of 11-under-par 205.

Dougherty, who broke through for his maiden victory here last season, charged into contention with a 67 while in-form Korean Charlie Wi and young Englishman Ross Fisher will enter the final round two off the pace after a 65 and 68 respectively.

Upcoming Thai Chapchai Nirat shot a career best 11 birdies for a 66, which unfortunately included a triple bogey and another double bogey, to stay within striking reach in fifth place on 208 in the US$1 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Mamat's brave bid to become Singapore 's first winner on the European Tour endured some anxious moments towards the end of his round. He played magnificently all day to shoot four birdies before dropping a bogey on the 17th after finding the greenside trap.

After missing the final green with his approach, the local hero and his playing partners had to endure a one hour and 25 minute wait due to a lightning delay which upon resumption, he bogeyed after leaving his chip 10 feet short of the pin.

"I'm still leading the tournament and you'll never know what is going to hap pen tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. I will just play my own game. As long as I keep myself relaxed, I think I'll be happy. I have to focus on what I want to do," said Mamat , who has led from the o pen ing round.

The par three 17th, guarded by a lake and measuring 202 yards, has taken many victims this week and Mamat dropped a bogey after finding the greenside bunker and failing to safe par from 15 feet. "It was a good recovery shot, I hit a good putt which didn't go in. It was an acceptable bogey," said Mamat .

The 23-year-old Dougherty reeled in eight birdies against a double bogey and a bogey to close the gap on Mamat after starting the day four off the pace. The swashbuckling Englishman feels the pressure will be on the home favourite on Sunday.

"I achieved what I wanted to achieve today and put myself past a lot of the other challengers. I am not hitting the ball as good as I like to and not anywhere near the quality of golf as last year. But I am getting the job done. Mardan is in front of us at the moment. There is a lot of pressure on him and he is the home player as well. He will get a lot of support but it is a bit of a burden as well," said Dougherty.

"I am going to work a bit on my game now and try and get a bit more confidence for tomorrow. If I can switch it on I am capable of shooting a great score. Fitness wise, I think I am more experienced and better equipped than Mardan will be."

When Mamat was asked to comment on Dougherty's thoughts, the Singaporean said his ultimate aim was to stay focussed for the final day shootout. "I don't care what he (Dougherty) is going to do and I just want to keep myself relaxed and I want to do my own thing. I don't care about the people in front of me or behind of me. I'm not going to get worried about that," said Mamat .

US-based Wi , last month's winner of the May bank Malaysian O pen , shot the day's best of 65 to move into contention. The Korean ace fired eight birdies on the card, thanks to a solid putting performance, which included a 60-foot monster on the 14th hole.

"I hit it good in the first two days but didn't make any putts but today, I hit it just as good and was able to convert those 10 to12 footers. I'm now in a nice position," said Wi , a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour.

Wi denied Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand a third straight Malaysian O pen crown last month after closing with a final round 63 and the Korean, who featured on the US PGA Tour last year, said his form is good enough for a second title in three tournaments.

"I've been playing good since October, when I won in Korea (a local event) and then finished fifth in my final US PGA Tour event. The coaches that I've been working with, Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, they've helped me understand how my swing is supposed to work. I just have to stay aggressive and make some birdies tomorrow," said Wi .

It was joy and heartbreak for upcoming Chapchai , who enjoyed a birdie binge but also suffered on the notorious par three challenges at Laguna National. The big-hitting Chapchai did not post a bogey on the card but it included a disastrous triple bogey on the eighth and a double bogey on the 17th.

Chapchai , who is six over par on the par three holes this week, said: "I am very happy. My game was good. But I made some mistakes on the par three holes. I knew I had to be careful. I was a little scared (when approaching the par threes) and there was pressure too. I told myself to be careful on those holes. May be the pressure got to me."