Kangar (PERLIS): Airil Rizman Zahari scaled to the top of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Perlis Championship at Putra Golf Club on Friday, hoping to repeat his 2012 victory in his home state.

The in-form player, who finished the top professional at last week’s Vascory Templer Park Championship and had a third-place finish prior to that, shot a third consecutive one-under 71 to lead the tournament by two strokes. Airil, who is seeking for his fourth Tour win, totalled three-under 213.

Sabahan Ben Leong returned with a one-over 73 to take a share of second alongside halfway leader Abel Tam, who slipped with a 74 to finish one-under 215.

Wilson Choo’s even-par 72 had him in fourth place, a shot further back, while  Tour’s Order of Merit leader R. Nachimuthu (74) and Kim Leun Kwang (74) were joint fifth on one-under.

Leading third round scores
213 – Airil Rizman Zahari 71-71-71
215 – Ben Leong 74-68-73, Abel Tam 69-72-74
216 – Wilson Choo 70-74-72
217 – R. Nachimuthu 73-70-74, Kim Leun Kwang 70-73-74
218 – Mohamad Rizal Amin 70-75-73
221 – M. Sasidaran 74-70-77
222 – Lam Yu Shuen 76-73-73, Akhmal Tarmizee 75-71-76
223 – S. Murthy 76-74-73
225 – Muhammad Alwarith Damian 76-76-73, Dino Abdillah 72-75-78
226 – Farid Rashid 76-77-73, Mohamad Azman Basharudin 78-73-75, Shaifubari Muda 78-72-76, Keegan Kam 73 75 78
227 – Nicholas Pua 80 76 71