Kota Kinabalu: Frontrunner Mardan Mamat will have a four-shot cushion to nurse into the final round of the Sabah Masters after a solid third round two-under 69 on Friday.
The experienced hand dug deep into his reserves, trading four birdies against a pair of bogey at a sun-swept Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club to improve his overnight lead to 11-under 202 and stake a strong claim for his third ASEAN PGA Tour title at the US$75,000 curtain-closer.
Local favourite Nicholas Fung and Thai Somkiat Srisanga matched the Singaporean’s effort to take a share of second alongside on seven-under 206 while joint first round leader Antonio Lascuna (71) is five behind the leader in sole fourth.
Nachimuthu Ramasamy carded a flawless 66 to come in fifth, a shot clear of compatriots Danny Chia (68) and S. Sivachandhran (71).
Mamat has led the tournament since day one and will be favourite to prevail tomorrow although he admitted today that maintaining his focus was difficult.
“I made a few mistakes on the back nine but managed to hang in there and finish even par on the back. It is hard to concentrate for four and a half hours every day. I made a few bad decisions.”
Mamat won the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore and in the following year’s Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia and is keen on getting his 2013 campaign of to a strong start.
“The key is to not make any bad mistakes. If I can finish under par tomorrow I will be very happy. I need to keep my confidence up. It is going to be a long year and this is just the start,” added the 45-year-old.
Despite facing an uphill task to usurp Mardan for the title, Nicholas who finished joint second at the 2011 event is hoping to turn the tide in his favour on the back of strong local support.
“I still believe I have a chance tomorrow and it is a matter of doing better than Mardan tomorrow. I can bank on my friends and fellow Sabahans to turn out in strength to push me across the finishing line as the winner,” said the 22-year-old, who is the reigning domestic Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Order of Merit champion.
He comfortably leads the ASEAN PGA Tour Merit list with Thailand’s Annop Tangkamolprasert, the only player who could overtake him by winning this week, trailing on a level-par overall.
“It’s something special to be crowned a double Order of Merit champion – it shows that I’ve grown to become a regional beater as well. It would be double good if I can win the title here,” added Nicholas, whose last win on home soil came at the 2011 PGM Sabah Classic.
National amateur Muhd Arie Irawan Ahmad Fauzi is the best bet for low amateur award, sitting in tied 19th on three-over 216.
Leading third round scores
202 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 67-66-69
206 – Nicholas Fung 72-65-69, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 69-68-69
207 – Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 67-69-71
209 – R. Nachimuthu 72-71-66
210 – Danny Chia 69-73-68, R. Nachimuthu 69-73-68
211 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 73-71-67, Anthony Fernando (PHI) 72-70-69
212 – Rory Hie (INA) 71-73-68, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 73-69-70