Gleeson equals course record

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FIVE players were tied for the lead after yesterday's third round of the Asian Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters, including Australia's David Gleeson, who equaled the Thai Country Club in Bangkok course record with a 9-under 63.

Gleeson's stellar round moved him to a three-round total of 9-under 207 along with fellow Australian Marcus Both (70), Thai pair Chapchai Nirat (70) and Chawalit Plaphol (69) and second-round leader Lam Chih Bing (72) of Singapore.

A further 10 players, including defending champion Prayad Marksaeng (72) of Thailand, were grouped within four strokes of the leaders, setting the stage for an intriguing final day of the 2008 Asian Tour.

Gleeson equaled the course record set by Canadian Jim Rutledge in 1997, even after a bogey on the opening hole. Two eagles contributed to an extraordinary front nine of just 29 strokes at the US$750,000 event.

"It was good fun," Gleeson said. "I played pretty good the other two days but made silly scoring mistakes. After the first hole, I thought "here we go again."

"Now that I've done the hard part, I've got to get another good round in tomorrow."

Lam had four birdies and four bogeys as his two-shot buffer at the start of the day soon evaporated. "I used to get down on myself but today, I made sure I stayed positive," Lam said. "I knew that if I stayed patient, the birdies would come.

"I'm excited. It's going to be a really good round tomorrow."

Chapchai produced three birdies against one bogey despite being wayward off the tee. The free-swinging local hope says he will alter his Sunday approach from that of last month's lucrative Singapore Open when he led on the final day and rapidly fell from contention.

"In that event I tried to play carefully on the last day but that is not my style," Chapchai said. "I am an aggressive player and will play more like that in the final round."

Chawalit could have been the outright leader but for a bogey on the final hole. The Thai has finished in the top six at each of his past three tournaments without breaking through.

"I feel like I am due a win, and this week will be my last chances this year," Chawalit said. "I don't want to miss this opportunity."

Chawalit's playing partner Both also faltered late, with bogeys at two of the last three holes. He led this tournament going into the final day in 2005.

Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei shot a 72 to be equal eighth just three shots off the pace, and still in with a strong chance of edging his world ranking from the current 51 into the top 50, which would mean a trip to the US Masters next year.