Chih Bing Charges into Lead
Melaka, Malaysia - Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing was unstoppable today taking a two-shot lead after the third round of the US$50,000 Heritage Melaka Classic at the Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club.
Lam returned a four-under-par 68 for a 12-under-par 204 total – in what is the fourth event on this year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour.
Nothing could contain the 32-year-old Singaporean whose hot putter took him to the top of the leader board.
It was a frustrating round for overnight leader Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines with his putting and driving let him down. He carded a 72 and is in second place.
First-round leader Sattaya Supupramai from Thailand bounced back with a 69 and is three strokes adrift of the leader.
Lam had no complaints about his game and is hoping for another good day tomorrow.
“My putting was solid today and I am just going to continue to do what I did on the final day,” said Lam, who enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2008 winning the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia and the Asian Masters in Thailand.
The long-hitting Lam leaves for France next week to play in the Saint-Omer Open, a European Tour event, and is hoping to depart on a winning note.
Lascuna will try and spoil Lam’s party tomorrow but will need to move up a gear.
“My putting let me down and my drives just didn’t land where I wanted them to go. I had eight birdies chances but the ball would just kiss the cup and move away,” said Lascuna.
Sattaya posted six birdies including five in a row from the 10th. He missed the opportunity to finish closer to Lam when he double-bogeyed the 18th hole.
“I tried hard not to get too excited after I sank those five birdies in a row. My mental game still needs a little fixing. Tomorrow, I am just going to relax and play my game,” said the 25-year-old from Ratchaburi.
Thailand’s much decorated Thaworn Wiratchant fired a70 and hovers menacingly four behind in joint fourth position.
Leading third round scores:
Par 72
204 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 69-67-68
206 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 68-66-72
207 Sattaya Supuramai (THA) 63-75-69
208 Passamet Pogamnerd (THA) 72-69-67, Thaworn Wiratchant 69-69-70
209 Pomsakon Tipsanit (THA) 72-71-66
210 Varut Chomchalam (THA) 74-71-65, Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 69-71-70
211 Mars Pucay (PHI) 71-72-68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-69-71, S Sivachandran (MAS) 71-69-71, Airil Rizman (MAS) 68-71-72, Pongthep Jaewchamnanchao (THA) 66-71-74
Selected:
219 Quincy Quek (SIN) 67-78-74
3
1