Kuala Lumpur: Despite playing his sixth tournament in a row, Singaporean ace Mardan Mamat showed no signs of fatigue as he fired a third round four-under 68 to open up a three-shot lead at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) CCM-Impian Masters.
Mardan, playing on an invite in the RM180,000 event, nailed six birdies against a sole double bogey to lead local star R. Nachimuthu and highly rated Dodge Kemmer of the United States with a three-day total of 15-under 201.
Japanese Hirotaro Naito carded a 67 took sole possession of fourth place on 205 at the Impian Golf and Country Club in the season-opening event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
The 44-year-old Mardan, fresh from qualifying to the Open Championship, was in imperious form once again and returned to the clubhouse with only a single blemish on his card, after pulling his tee-shot into the rough on the 15th.
“Overall, it was a good round, I played well with the exception of one hole [the 15th], where I was interrupted by a spectator. I think it was almost a wonderful day,” exclaimed Mardan, who won his third Asian Tour title at the ICTSI Philippine Open last month.
“I was in control of myself out there, I kept the ball in play all the time and when the opportunity to birdie was there, I seized it. I had a slow start but once I notched two straight birdies from the fifth, I knew I was getting into a rhythm. I am disappointed with the 15th but it was beyond my control. I hope the spectators can understand that we’re trying to make a living here and each shot counts,” shared Mardan, who hoped for better co-operation from the crowd during the final round tomorrow.
In a turn of fortunes, Nachimuthu, the reigning PGM Order of Merit champion, struggled with his putting all day despite a great start with an eagle on the third. After dropping two shots on the fifth and 16th, the 41-year-old notched his sole birdie of the day on the 17th to post a respectable one-under 71.
“I don’t think I played bad today but the putts just didn’t drop today for me to really hold on to my position. Not a bad place to be [tied second], I’m just three behind the leader with one full round to play, so I can turn my attention to that,” lamented Nachimuthu.
Senroku Isa of Japan and Neil Reilly of England returned with a 68 and 72 respectively to share fifth place on 206 while Danny Chia was a further shot back after posting a 69.
Leading third round scores
201 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 66-67-68
204 – Dodge Kemmer(USA) 67-68-69, R. Nachimuthu (MAS) 64-69-71
205 – Hirotaro Naito (JPN) 72-66-67
206 – Senroku Isa (JPN) 68-70-68, Neil Reilly (ENG) 67-67-72
207 – Matt Johnston (CAN)71-68-68, Glenn Joyner (AUS) 66-72-69, Anthony Choat (AUS) 68-70-69, Danny Chia (MAS) 68-70-69, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 68-69-70
208 – Mitchell Slorach (SIN) 69-71-68, Airil Rizman (MAS) 68-72-68, Jay Bayron (PHI) 68-70-70
