Thai fires 69, nears first Asian Tour crown

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Thailand’s Sutijet Kooratanapisan moved on the doorstep of a first-ever Asian Tour victory as he zoomed to the top with a steady three-under-par 69, two strokes clear of compatriot and teen sensation Phachara Khongwatmai after three rounds of the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters at the Manila Southwoods here yesterday.

The 28-year-old Kooratanapisan, tied with countryman Tirawat Kaewsiribandit at second, two shots off leader Jyoti Randhawa of India before the round, had an eagle on the fourth and birdies on the ninth and 14th.

Despite a bogey in the 17th, he finished with a 31-35 card and an impressive 199 aggregate going into the last round.

If Kooratanapisan, a two-year veteran here, holds on in today’s fourth and final round, he will secure his very first victory in the Tour after coming close to winning one in the Bashundara Open in Dhaka, Bangladesh where he wound up second behind eventual winner Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand in February this year.

“I will just try to relax, play one hole at a time and not think too much about it,” said Kooratanapisan, who won his first Asian Development Tour event in the Palm Resort Championship in Malaysia last April.

The 17-year-old Khongwatmai, joint fifth in the first two rounds with Vietnam’s Michael Tran and another Thai Sattaya Supupramai, moved up to second this time with a 69 as erstwhile solo leader Jyoti Randhawa of India faltered with a 75 to slide to a share of sixth.

With a 202 total, Khongwatmai, who had already won an ADT crown in the 2015 PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship in Thailand and the 2013 Sing Hua Hin Open when he was still 14 years old, lay just two strokes behind Kooratanapisan for a chance to also win his first Asian Tour title.

If he accomplishes such feat, Khongwatmai will be the youngest to do so.

Aussie Terry Pilkadaris, South African Jbe Kruger and Indian S. S. P. Chawrasia fired 67, 67, and 71, respectively, for a share of third with 203s while Randhawa paced a six-man pack at sixth with 204.

The group included Vietnamese Michael Tran, American Sam Chien, Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, Thai Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Miguel Tabuena and Antonio Lascuña remained in the running with an identical 69 and a 206 each in a course they call their home.

Tabuena, a 22-year-old Olympian who had five top 10 finishes on the Asian Tour, including two runner-up efforts in Malaysia and Chinese-Taipei this season, hurt his left wrist after hitting too much ground in his approach on the 18th green, where he, however, saved par after hitting the water hazard.

“I was hitting at the lining of the hazard and I really couldn’t move it,” said Tabuena. “I could’ve done better and I would have wanted to be closer to the lead but I missed some makeable putts. It could have been an easy five or six.

“I’m still within range, I just need to go sub-zero,” he added.

The 45-year-old Lascuña could have done better also if not for bogeys on the 10th, 11th and 13th.

“I hit four birdies in the first six and then I started to get excited and missed some birdie putts including on the seventh and eighth before it got worse on the back nine,” said Lascuña, who was met by his wife Cherry after the 18th hole.

“So I try to not think that much after the bogeys and I hit two birdies including the 18th when I told my caddy I will just save par,” he added.

Jhonnel Ababa carded a 68 to stay in contention with a 207 while Jay Bayron had a 70 for a 209.

Resorts World Manila Masters partners include Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club and Marriott (official hotel partner).

The event is supported by Aristocrat, IGT, Konami, Scientific Games, Empire Automation, LJ Industries, Levelwear, RGB LTD, PLDT Alpha, Dalmore, Srixon and Bloomberg.