Sihwan Kim and Shih-Chang Chan shot third rounds of 68 to take a share of the lead in the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in Thailand.
Kim, who played at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, in 2013 to finish ninth on the Challenge Tour rankings, took 34 on each side of the card, with Chan matching him with five birdies and one bogey. They stand 51st and 22nd respectively in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Hope home Sadom Kaewkanjana, the overnight leader, went out in 39 but fought back strongly with a three-birdie 33 on the back nine to stand two back of the leaders with one round to go.
First-round leader John Catlin of the US had a level-par 72 to be tied fourth.
Move of the day came from Australia’s Scott Hend, with a best of the day 65 to tie with Catlin.
Dubai-based Shiv Kapur of India managed five birdies and an eagle in his 67 to get into contention at tied ninth and five behind the leaders. Kapur moved up from tied 23rd thanks to 27 putts and hitting 13 of 18 greens in regulation.
All eyes are still on 14-year-old Thai amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat, who made the cut with rounds of 71 and 72 and added a more than impressive 68 in his third round to stand tied 33rd.
The Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby lies in tied 19th with his nearest challenger whom made the cut being Joohyung Kim in tied-fourth in the tournament and sixth in the Order of Merit, almost $120,000 behind Ormsby in season earnings.
This is the penultimate tournament of the year with next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship completing the Asian Tour Phuket Series with both tournaments boasting a $1 million prize fund.
