Seremban, July 9: Malaysian Airil Rizman burst into the third round lead in the Negeri Sembilan Masters Invitational today after chipping in for eagle on the final hole for a six-under-par 66.
Rizman, who has had numerous opportunities to win this prestigious event before, moved to 13-under-par for the tournament and opened up a two-stroke lead over compatriot Danny Chia, Antonio Lascuna from the Philippines, and Thailand’s Atthaphon Prathummanee.
Chia (right), also looking for his first win here, carded a 68 along with Lascuna. Atthaphon, the joint leader after the first and second rounds, shot a 70 at Seremban International Golf Club. Bangladesh’s Siddikur and Malaysian Shaaban Hussin are a further shot back.
Local players have an added incentive to win this week as there is a RM10,000 (approx US$3,300) bonus offered to any Malaysian who takes top spot. This will be on top of the RM78,750 (approx US$26,230) champion’s cheque.
The 33-year-old Airil toured the front nine in one under but stormed into contention with a five-under par back nine that included birdies on 11, 13 and 15 before he chipped in for a three from 10 yards off the front of the green on the last.
“Anything in the 60s is good. I am just trying to keep the ball in the fairway which is really important here. I am lucky I have a really good local caddie this week who seems to know everything about the course,” he said
Rizman’s last victory on Malaysian soil came in 2007 in a local Tour event in the same state as this week. “You never know in this game. If it’s yours it’s yours. I am always pretty relaxed and happy so I will take that I into the final round. I think I have led this tournament on three occasions after the third round but never won it,” added Airil, who is looking for his first win on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
Chia, fresh from a victory in the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Clearwater Classic two weeks, birdied three out of the last five holes.
“I was a bit unlucky today. I had a couple of putts lip out and had a couple of bad bounces but that is part of the game. The front nine was not so good. It’s been like that every day so far. I can’t figure it out. Thankfully I have made it up on the back nine,” said Chia.
Lascuna is also looking for his first win on the ASEAN PGA Tour despite coming close many times. He has been an ever present name on the leaderboard since the Tour was inaugurated in 2007.
The Filipino has finished runner up twice and claimed a total of nine top-five finishes. “I am just staying relaxed and making sure I have fun. There is no point in forcing it,” said the 40 year old.
Atthaphon did well to get back into the frame after playing the front nine in one over. He recovered with three birdies on the inward stretch.
Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines, the 2007 champion, started the day sharing the lead with Atthaphon and Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam, but slipped back with a 73 and is five off the lead. Varut also had a poor day and carded a 74 to finish six back. – www.aseanpgatour.com
Final third round scores
203 – Airil Rizman (MAS) 65-72-66
205 – Danny Chia (MAS) 66-71-68, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 66-71-68, Atthaphon Prathummanee(THA) 65-70-70
206 – Siddikur (BAN) 69-68-69, Shaaban Hussin (MAS) 68-69-69
208 – Rashid Ismail (MAS) 70-66-72, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 69-66-73
209 – Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 72-67-70, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 66-69-74
210 – Angelo Que (PHI) 70-73-67, Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 72-69-69, Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 73-66-71
211 – Scott Barr (AUS) 73-69-69, Chiragh Kumar (IND) 68-71-72, Mars Pucay (PHI) 69-69-73
