Singaporean has slim lead over lurking Thaworn
Singapore's Mardan Mamat kept his composure at the US$500,000 King's Cup, firing a third round 66 to take a one-stroke lead over tournament favourite Thaworn Wiratchant at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club yesterday.
It was a seesaw battle with overnight leader Supakorn Utaipat, Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Thaworn taking turns in climbing to the pole position on the leaderboard. Ultimately, it was the first day's top scorer Mamat who stole the show, birdying the last hole to surge ahead of local hope Thaworn with a 17-under 199. The 45-year-old had just one bogey on the sixth hole while sinking seven birdies, five on the back nine.
"I tried to be patient on my front-nine and then I started off well with two birdies on my back-nine which gave me lots of confidence. I saw Thaworn who was 15-under, going into the last hole and when I heard the roar from the galleries on the 18th, I knew he made a birdie there to go to 16-under. It was a good round for him," said the Singaporean, in search of his second Asian Tour victory this year after the ICTSI Philippine Open. But he is well aware how dangerous Thaworn is, judging from the Thai's improving score of 69, 66, 65 every day.
"It's going to be tough to beat this old guy here; if you can get a one-stroke advantage, you got to take it because he can shoot a low number anytime," Mamat added.
Thaworn, with the most Asian Tour titles of 15, three in this season including the Queen's Cup, benefited from four finishing birdies to score a 65 and a three day total of 16-under 200.
"I was playing well but my tee-off shots and iron shots were not good. Luckily I chipped well, chipping in for three holes. I just have to work more on my driving before tomorrow," said the 45-year-old, who is behind Tour leader Marcus Fraser of Australia by US$24,213 in the prize money race. A strong finish today will take him back to the top and challenge for the yearend's Order of Merit title.
"I can't deny that I want to win the tournament. But winning or not winning also depends on others as well. I'm not the only good player here as everybody else is also good. I always give my all in every tournament I enter even if it's local or international. I will just have to focus on my game like I always do," said Thaworn who also won two Asean PGA Tour titles this year.
Following by a stroke at lone third was Pariya who briefly led the field after 15 holes until back-to-back bogeys, caused by silly mistakes, on the 16th and 17th deprived him of the pole position. He fired a 66 for a total of 201.
"I was not under pressure while I was leading but I was just a little careless on the 16th and had some bad luck on the 17th hole. A lot of people will expect Thaworn to perform well tomorrow but I will have to focus on my game," said the 28-year-old Thai with one Asian Tour trophy in the 2010 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
At joint fourth were the chasing pack of Javi Colomo of Spain and three Thais Piya Swangarunporn, Udorn Duangdecha and Arnond Vongvanu, each with a 202.
Friday's leader Suppakorn Utaipat showed his lack of experience at a crucial stage. The 22-year-old Bangkokian, who made his first cut on the Asian Tour, suffered a triple bogey on the 13th hole to card a 74 to take the joint 14th position with 205.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/02/mamat-sensational-on-back-nine/
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