Sabah, Malaysia: Lindsay Renolds of Canada puts himself in position for a first Asian Development Tour (ADT) win when he carded a third round four-under-par 68 to lead at the PGM-UMW Sabah Classic on Friday.
The Phuket-based Renolds compiled a three-day total of seven-under-par 209 to hold a two-shot lead over James Bowen of the United States who returned with the day’s lowest score of 66 at the Sabah Golf and Country Club.
Overnight co-leader Nicholas Fung (72), compatriot M. Sasidaran (71) and Wolmer Murillo (70) of Venezuela took a share of third place on matching 212s at the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) ADT event.
Iain Steel, the current ADT Order of Merit leader, and Shaaban Hussin of Malaysia, who led in the first two rounds, slipped down the leaderboard after posting a disappointing 78 and 77 respectively.
Renolds, who has recorded six top-10 finishes on the ADT this season, hopes his consistency will finally be rewarded with a long-awaited victory.
“I putted well enough to put me atop the leaderboard. The course was pretty wet due to the rain yesterday but overall, it’s still in a good and playable condition,” said Renolds, who is currently ranked third on the ADT Order of Merit.
“I think I’ll be in a good position to win tomorrow if I stay consistent in my game,” added the confident Renolds, who marked his card with six birdies against two bogeys.
Meanwhile Bowen, who is currently second on the ADT Order of Merit, was delighted to be on track for a third ADT victory this season. If he wins, Bowen will be the first player on the ADT to win three titles in a single season.
“I had a really good round. I hit the ball extremely well today. I hit 17 greens in total, made some putts and didn’t make any bogeys. I’m pleased that I gave myself a good chance to win this week,” said Bowen, who posted a flawless round highlighted by six birdies.
“It’s my first time here in Sabah. I got here one week earlier and Iain (Steel) brought me out and showed me around. He’s been a great host! I’m enjoying myself so far,” added the 27-year-old, who claimed victories in Indonesia and Malaysia earlier this year.
Fung remained disappointed with his putting but hopes to turn his game around when he enters the final round of the PGM-UMW Sabah Classic.
“I’m hitting the ball very well but I just couldn’t get my putting right. I’m really disappointed with the way I putted. I hope it will be better tomorrow,” said the 23-year-old Fung, who is the highest-ranked golfer in Malaysia.
The top three players on the Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn Asian Tour cards for the following year.
All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points, which will be used to determine the field for the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne in November and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.