Luang Prabang (LAOS): Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul from Thailand remained rock steady at the top of the leaderboard after the third round of the US$100,000 Luang Prabang Laos Open on Friday.
The 25-year-old star in the making fired a two-under-par 70 to keep the lead for the third straight day in the third event of the season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
In hot pursuit and one shot behind is his more experienced countryman Udorn Duangdecha, who matched his effort at the Luang Prabang Golf Club. Five shots behind Namchok in a tie for third are Thailand’s Ratchapol Juntavara (70) and Wisut Artjanawat (72) while Malaysia’s Khor Kheng Hwai fell six strokes off the pace after a poor return of two-over 74.
Namchok is chasing his third title on the ASEAN PGA Tour, having won the Mercedes-Benz Vietnam Masters and the B-Ing Championship en-route to claiming the Order of Merit title in 2009.
“It has been disappointing not to win for a few years so I really want to win this week,” said the stocky golfer, who leads on seven-under-par 209.
“I know how to win so I will go into the final round with confidence and not worry about what other players are doing. Udorn is always a dangerous player though who can play aggressive golf,” added Namchok, who mixed four birdies and two bogeys.
Trailing by one at the start of the day, Udorn lurked as he made the turn in three-under but the 42-year-old led Namchok back into it after dropping shots over the closing holes.
“The main thing is that I am very much in contention. I have a great chance tomorrow but there are some very good players who can win like Namchok and Wisut,” said Udorn.
Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin, who won last week’s Singha Pattaya Open, fired a 71 and has an outside chance of the title as he is seven behind the leader.
Leading third round scores (Thai unless stated)
209 – Namchok Tantipokhakul 68 71 70
210 – Udorn Duangdecha 69 71 70
214 – Ratchapol Juntavara 72 72 70, Wisut Artjanawat 73 69 72
215 – Varut Chomchalam 73 71 71, Khor Kheng Hwai (MAS) 71 70 74
216 – Kwanchai Tannin 73 72 71
217 – Sutijet Kooratanapisan 68 76 73
219 – Pol Kemmarat 72 76 71, Borworn Chaisri 71 72 76
