Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Korea’s Bio Kim are tied at the top of the leaderboard on 14-under-par after three rounds of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup.
The duo both began the day at Siam Country Club on 10-under-par and one shot off the lead but rounds of 68 (-4) put the pair in pole position after 54 holes.
Khongwatmai carded a bogey-free round rolling in birdies on two, nine, 10 and 14 to set the clubhouse lead of -14.
“I am so happy with that score, and I feel good about my game right now because everything is perfect,” he said.
“I think right now it is the best I have played but I do think it can be better. I think shooting six-under tomorrow would give me a chance but it depends on the wind and the pin position and let’s see the back nine tomorrow.”
It was a difficult start for Kim who began his day with a double bogey on the first, but he regained the lost ground with an eagle on the par-five 8th and birdie on the ninth to make the turn in 35 (-1).
Another birdie on the 10th was followed by back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 as the 31-year-old joined also finished on 14-under.
It was the 11th straight sub-70 round for Kim on Tour and he will be chasing for a maiden victory on the Asian Tour on Sunday.
“I didn’t recognise it was the 11th one, but it’s good to hear and hopefully I can do that again tomorrow,” said Kim. “My ball-striking has been okay; it hasn’t been great. I was missing it in the correct spot, but I wasn’t flushing a lot of balls today and for the last few months.
“I think around the greens I have been capitalising on my chances and so I have been having some consistent rounds, but I want to keep improving to another level. I have got to not think about Phachara tomorrow and just think about my own game.”
Three players sit one shot further back on 13-under including overnight co-leader Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, who produced a bogey-free round of 70 (-2).
The 15-year-old amateur was joined by American Paul Peterson, who shot a 68 (-4), and Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant, who fired a bogey-free round of 66 (-6).
And the 22-year-old Duke University graduate, who won the 2021 ThaiLPGA Tour finale, is enjoying her time this week at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup.
“The golf course is in great condition. It looks very pretty, and the greens are very nice, the ball is rolling pretty well. I love it and I like how they set it up,” she said.
“I think I hit my driver better today, so I put myself in good positions on the greens and holed a few today too. Most of the birdie putts were quite short because I was in a good position. I am trying not to focus on the outcome, I’m trying to stick to the plan and play how I have been playing this week so far.”
Thailand’s Chanoknan Angurasaranee recorded a third round of 67 (-5) to be alone in sixth place on 12-under-par.
“I hit my driver and shots pretty good today, as well as the first two rounds, and I putted really well. I have been getting used to the conditions and the wind here,” said the 17-year-old.
“I just hope I hit my shots as good as I did the past three days. I’m not going to expect anything much for tomorrow, I’m just going to play my game and hit the shots that I should be hitting and make as many opportunities for birdies.”
American John Catlin fired a round of 66 (-6) to move up to T7 on 11-under-par alongside Korea’s Kyongjun Moon, South Africa’s Ian Snyman and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol.
Scotland’s Michele Thomson is just outside the top 10 after three rounds having signed for a round of 67 (-5) on day three and after beginning her week with no clubs.
“I arrived with no clubs to start with, so I had no clubs on Monday and Tuesday and then they arrived on Wednesday, and I opened the bag to a broken driver,” she said.
“The club fitters who were on the range this week worked a miracle and managed to get the same shaft for me and it’s back in the bag with the same shaft and we’re ready to go.
“A lot of things went well. I drove the ball a lot better today which obviously gives you a lot of chances. I took advantage of the par-fives, and I was two-putting for birdie which made it a little bit easier.
“On the back nine, I carried on the good form and had a few chances I left out there. I dropped one on 17 which is a tough driving hole and doesn’t quite suit my eye off the tee. I took our medicine there knowing we had 18 there and could pick it back up.
“I’m just going to try and do more of the same as I did today. I will see how it goes and keep relaxed and this golf course seems to suit me pretty well.”
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