Petaling Jaya (ASIAN TOUR): Local hope Gavin Kyle Green remain firmly in contention at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters after a battling third round one-under 70 on Saturday.
After turning in 38, Green scrambled back with five birdies and a double bogey on his back nine at Seri Selangor Golf Club to end the day on six-under-par 207, two shots behind leader Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand in the RM1.2 million (approximately US$400,000) Asian Tour event.
“I didn’t get the best of starts but I kind of stayed patient. Got to three over through four but birdied five and six but bogeyed seven and then closed out the front nine in two over,” said the 19-year-old Green.
“I tried to push it a bit more on the back nine and made birdies on 11, 12, 14, 16 and 18. But I made a double on 17. I thought it was a good drive there but just bad luck that it ended up in the slope,” he added.
Green has led the Malaysian challenge since day one and is hoping to seal the victory and become only the fourth amateur to win on the Asian Tour. A good result will also likely earn him a spot at the U.S. Amateur Championship in August.
“I’ve got to keep to the same game plan again. If I have to go for it, I’ll do so on the back nine. But I’ll need a better start. Just need to stay patient throughout,” he said.
Chasing a second Asian Tour victory, Pariya hung on to his one-shot lead over Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun after the duo both conceded costly bogeys on the finishing stretch to settle for matching 71s.
The Thai has led the way since the first round on ultra-demanding Seri Selangor course which is running hard and fast and made two birdies against just as many bogeys for a three-day total of eight-under-par 205.
“I didn’t do anything much. I didn’t take advantage of the par-fives. Having an even-par round is still okay as I didn’t lose any spots, so hopefully I can take advantage of the par fives tomorrow,” said Pariya.
“The conditions are getting tougher. The greens are getting firmer and they are rolling quicker. Some of the putts that look flat are rolling so fast it feels like it is going downhill. Tomorrow is going to be a big challenge.”
The 29-year-old Pariya knows he must stay on an even keel to hold off his challengers, in particular his regular playing partner Baek. “I’m not thinking about winning but if I can handle myself and hit even or under-par, then I’ll be okay. It should be exciting but I’m trying not to be. Anxiety can get to you and you will get nervous and feel the pressure,” he added.
Shaaban Hussin and Malaysian amateur Abel Tam shot matching 74s to share 34th position with Danny Chia, who returned with a 69 on the region’s premier Tour which is celebrating its 10th season this year.
Leading third round scores
205 – Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 66-68-71
206 – Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 67-68-71
207 – Gavin Kyle Green (A) 68-69-70
208 – Anirban Lahiri (IND) 73-68-67
209 – Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 75-67-67
210 – Wade Ormsby (AUS) 68-70-72
211 – Konosuke Nakazato (JPN) 71-73-67, Stephen Lewton (ENG) 73-70-68, Peter Richardson (ENG) 69-73-69, Anthony Kang (USA) 73-68-70
