Sep 23, 2017: Thailand’s Poom Saksansin brilliantly stayed bogey-free for the second straight day at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup, signing for a third round four-under-par 67 to grab a share of the lead with Tadahiro Takayama of Japan on Saturday. India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia scored one-over-par 72 in third round to tie at T30 with a total score of one-under-par 212.
Other two Indian players Chikkarangappa and Rahil Gangjee tied at T49 with a total score of three-over-par 216. Rahil experienced a rough day with a lone birdie, after scoring seven bogies and a double bogie. He scored 8-over-par 79, and lost 38 spots on the leaderboard to tie at T49.
Starting the day six shots back, Poom reeled in nine straight pars from the first before storming home with four birdies to match the three-day efforts of Takayama on 12-under-par 201 total at the Caledonian Golf Club.
“I feel like I can walk easier on the course after losing so much weight this year. I definitely feel fitter than before. I feel much easier when I tie my shoe lace now (laughs). I am eating less too so it has definitely helped my game.” – Poom Saksansin, 24
Takayama, who had led since the opening round, stretched his overnight six-shot lead to seven after sinking two straight birdies from the 10th hole but four bogeys in his closing six holes saw him give away his shots as he signed for an eventual 73.
The leading duo hold a one-shot advantage over Daisuke Kataoka of Japan, who returned with the day’s lowest round of 66 to sit in third place, at the ¥?150 million (approximately US$1.37 million) event.
Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao and Shugo Imahira of Japan shared fourth place on 205 following respective rounds of 69 and 71 at the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Did you know?
- Poom did not miss a single fairway today. He hit all 14 fairways in his round of 67.
- Poom has not drop a single shot in his last 39 holes at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup.
- Poom, placed 16th on the Order of Merit, is chasing for a third Asian Tour victory and a second win this season. He claimed his first title at the Indonesian Masters last October and his second win came at the TAKE Solutions Masters in India last month.
- The 24-year-old Poom endured a back injury after securing his maiden win last year. He was advised by his doctor to lose weight so as to avoid getting injured again. He has lost about 10 kilograms since.
- Takayama is chasing for a first title on the Asian Tour and a first wire-to-wire win in his career. He has won a total of five titles on the JGTO. His fifth and last victory came at the 2011 Casio World Open in Japan.
- Kataoka had finished in tied-seventh positions in the last two consecutive editions of the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup.
Asian Tour Release
