Four players are tied in the lead after three rounds of the $2 million International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin on the Asian Tour.
Siddikur Rahman (Ban), S. Chikkarangappa (Ind), Zach Murray (Aus) and Jazz Janewattananond (Thai) are all on 15 under par with one round to go.
Rahman equalled the best score of the week, an eight under par 64, with 15 greens hit in regulation and only 25 putts to be tied at the top. The 38 year-old is a two time winner on the Asian Tour, his last win was in 2013 in the Indian Open.
Chikkarangappa shot a 67, Murray a 68 and Janewattananond a 69.
‘It was a wonderful day, I was so sound,’ said Rahman.
‘My hitting was excellent and at the same time my putting was too good. So, all over it was a wonderful round for me, nine birdies and one bogey, the last two holes a little bit unlucky, but, again, I’m happy for today.’
Rahman is one of the shortest hitters on Tour, not suited to Black Mountain, which favours the long ball players, but the Bangladeshi countered that with a brilliant short stick display.
He said, ‘I especially enjoyed my putting today because the first two days I couldn’t putt that good. The first day my hitting was excellent, but I couldn’t putt honestly. But today, yeah, no complaints on the putting and my hitting was excellent too.’
Murray, currently stands in 28th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and 23rd in the Asian Tour – International Series OOM, making his last three cuts on the Asian Tour with his best performance of the year, tied 13th in the International Series – Qatar.
Jazz, 27 years-old is the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, with seven victories including the International Series - Morocco late last year and has been as high as 38th in the OWGR in 2020.
Jazz didn’t produce his best today and also missed a chance to take the lead on his own after failing to hole a 16-foot birdie putt on 18, but he is well placed heading into Sunday.
‘Just slow today, nothing really went for me but hung in there, gave myself a good position to go in and play good in the last round,’ said Jazz.
‘I mean golf is golf right, if the ball goes in you play good. You just have to go out there and do the same thing and hope the ball goes in.’
With Black Mountain being his home course he desperately wants to secure his first win here tomorrow.
He said, ‘I just want to do one for the members you know, I’ve been here with them since I was 15, so it would be nice to do something nice for the club here. But if not, it’s okay, they still can’t fire me, they can’t kick me out.’
29 year-old Chikkarangappa carded his third consecutive 67, which could have been better but for a bogey six on the 18th hole.
Third round leader Dodge Kemmer (US) shot a third round 74 to drop to tied 17th.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, two off the lead at the start of the day, had a surprisingly poor start going out in two over, he battled back making four birdies in a row from the 13th but carded a 71 and is two behind the leaders.
With 28 players within three shots of the lead the tournament is wide open and the stage set for a gripping final day, in what is the third International Series event of the season.
Third Round Leaders (7,551 Yards, Par 72)
S. Rahman (Bang) 70, 67, 64 = 201
S. Chikkarangappa (Ind) 67, 67, 67 = 201
Z. Murray (Aus) 67, 66, 68 = 201
J. Janewattananond (Thai) 65, 67, 69 = 201
