Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert shot a five-under 67 in the third round of the Yeangder TPC to lead for a third straight day. He is on 19-under, one shot ahead of defending champion Kazuki Higa of Japan.
Pavit, 37, has not dropped a shot all week at Linkou International Golf & Country Club. His rounds so far are 64, 66 and 67. On Saturday he began with an eagle on the par-five first and added three birdies.
A win on Sunday would be his first on the Asian Tour since the Sabah Masters at the end of 2019. He also won the Macau Open in 2016 and has a record eight titles on the Asian Development Tour.
Big names move into range
Higa, who won here last year, also went bogey-free for a 67. His birdie on the 18th trimmed Pavit’s lead to a single shot.
Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines matched the lowest round of the week with a 62, including a back-nine 29 with five straight birdies from the 12th. He is tied third, three shots behind, with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho (64), American Peter Uihlein (65) and Chinese-Taipei’s Chien-yao Hung (67).
Chinese-Taipei’s Chieh-po Lee (64) and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (68) are one stroke further back. Australia’s Travis Smyth, who leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot 66 and is another shot behind.
Order of Merit and the DP World Tour card
Kho won the International Series Morocco in June and sits second on the Order of Merit. The leader at the end of the season earns a DP World Tour card. Smyth is already exempt for Europe, so Kho is next in line.
How the leaders got here
After round two, Pavit (66) and Poom Saksansin (64), the 2023 champion, were level on 14-under. Tawit Polthai’s 62 that day was then the best of the week.
“If it’s my week, it’s my week, so I just have to stay calm tomorrow,” Pavit said.
Higa knows the position well. “I started the final round one shot back last year too, so I’m in a similar position again,” he said. “I don’t feel any pressure right now.”
