Thailand's rising star Panuphol Pittayarat fired a five-under-par 67 to secure a two-shot lead after the third round of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters on Friday.
Panuphol, 18, needed only 24 putts at the sun-baked Kota Permai Golf and Country Club to stay ahead of Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines, the tournament's 2007 champion, who surged into contention with a flawless 66.
Australian Adam Groom (66) and Finland's Joonas Granberg (70), who set a new course record 62 in the opening round, were a further two strokes back in tied third place in the Asian Tour event.
With his father Chinnawat on caddying duty, Panuphol holed a 25-footer at the last for his seventh birdie of the day to lead on 13-under-par 203.
"I was putting great. My putter is on fire the past two days," said the teenager who credited his dad for a superb putting display.
"He's good with the lines and he helps me think a lot out there. It's a big help. He's one of the best and I want to give him this (win)," said Panuphol, who described Friday as his best-ever third-round.
"I've struggled at the beginning of the season but I had a big week last week, practiced hard and it is paying off.
"Normally after two good rounds, I would push myself to get up (the leaderboard) but today, I just went out there and told myself I'm going to play on my own, stick to my routine, finish every swing and concentrate."
Malaysia's S. Siva Chandhran climbed up the leaderboard with a solid 67 to share fifth place, five behind the leader, with countryman Nicholas Fung, Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, Australian Kieran Pratt and Bangladeshi Siddikur.
Second-placed Lascuna -- 22 years older than Panuphol -- enjoyed a chip-in birdie on the fourth and nailed a monster 75-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, giving himself the chance of a maiden Asian Tour victory. When he won the Selangor title four years ago, it was a local Malaysian event.
"I've won this tournament before, so I feel good vibes when I'm playing in Malaysia. I'm going to go out there to try and win tomorrow," Lascuna said.
There are no comments yet