Puchong [SELANGOR]: Airil Rizman Zahari seized the third round lead of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) I&P Group Championship at Kinrara Golf Club on Friday.

The reigning Order of Merit champion carded a six-under-par 65 to take a slim one-stroke advantage over Kenneth De Silva (67) with a three-day haul of 10-under 203.

Overnight leader Nicholas Fung – gunning for his fourth victory of the season – fell two shots off the pace despite a two-under 69 effort to lie third ahead of Sukree Othman, who moved up to sole fourth with a 69 of his own.

Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari enjoyed a flawless round, highlighted by seven birdies to take a share of alongside M. Sasidaran (70) and first round leader Shaaban Hussin (71) on 207.

Airil started his round with a birdie but gave the shot back on the third hole. That proved his only blemish on the day as he rattled in a pair of birdies either side of an eagle on the par-five 10th to close in on his seventh Tour title.

De Silva, who won the Kinrara Championship earlier this year, enjoyed a brilliant run of his own, carding five birdies before a dropped shot on the closing hole cost the 24-year-old a share of the third round lead.

Leading third round scores (Par-71) >
203 – Airil Rizman Zahari 66-72-65
204 – Kenneth De Silva 70-67-67
205 – Nicholas Fung 69-67-69
206 – Sukree Othman 66-71-69
207 – Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari 70-72-65, M. Sasidaran 67-70-70, Shaaban Hussin 63-73-71
208 – Hans Jamil 71-66-71
209 – Kemarol Baharin 69-71-69, Khor Kheng Hwai 68-72-69, R. Nachimuthu 68-71-70
210 – Iylia Jamil 73-69-68, Low Khai Jei (A) 70-72-68, Jeremiah Kim Leun Kwang 69-69-72