September 27: Rattanon Wannasrichan and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai led a leaderboard crowded by Thai players after the third round of the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.

Rattanon (70) found just four fairways off the tee but still managed to score well and limit the damage to just one bogey at Taiwan Golf & Country Club, while Atiruj (73), leader by two at the start of the round, endured a late double bogey in an otherwise solid outing.

The Thai duo is at six-under par 210 heading into Sunday’s final round, leading by three shots over three of their compatriots – Jazz Janewattananond (70), Nitithorn Thippong (70), and Suradit Yongcharoenchai (74).

The first non-Thai players on the leaderboard were Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (71) and veteran Australian Scott Hend (75), who were tied sixth at two-under, while American MJ Maguire (69) and Korea’s Jeunghun Wang (74) were tied eighth one stroke further behind.

Atiruj Winaicharoenchai of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Rattanon, winner of the 2017 Thailand Open, needed almost seven years for his second Asian Tour title at last year’s SJM Macao Open, but put himself in a position where he might not have to endure that long a wait for his third. The 30-year-old from Bangkok may not have had a good day with his tee shots, but his highly-rated short game was on song.

After making a great start, when he almost holed his tee shot on the 161-yard, par-three second hole, he added two more birdies and a bogey on the 11th hole.

“It was very tough for me, because I hit the driver so badly. I had maybe just four fairways today,” said Rattanon, currently ranked 20th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“Also, the greens were a little bit firmer and faster than the first two rounds. It’s very difficult to hit the greens. But my short game was good. I made at least four or five putts for par from about 10 feet.

Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“I was just trying to keep calm throughout the round and play my own game. And that is what I want to do tomorrow – not think about what everyone else is doing on the course.”

Atiruj, who is hoping to win his first title on the Asian Tour, did not have the best start and lost some ground to his chasers on the first hole itself with a bogey. However, he made birdies on two of the four par-fives, before the double on the par-four 16th pushed him back.

“I did not make any putts today like I did in my opening round. And I was also struggling with my tee shots. I had to make many ups and downs, and most of them were for pars and not for birdies,” said the promising 25-year-old from Bangkok.

“Even for my two birdies, I had to chip and putt. And then there was the 16th hole, where I missed my tee shot to the right, from where you have no angle to the green. I had a 35-feet putt downhill putt for par, but three-putted.

“I just kept my focus on the next shot. I was trying to make some birdies because I know on this golf course, you are going to lose some shots.

“Yeah, big day tomorrow, but I am not thinking about my first Asian Tour win at all. If it happens, it’s OK, and if it doesn’t, it’s OK too.”

Wang Wei-hsuan of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

The local challenge was led by birthday boy, Wang Wei-hsuan, who shot a two-under 70 and climbed to tied 10th place at even-par. It could have been a lot better finish, but Wang closed with doubles on the 14th and 17th holes after being five-under through 14 holes.

“I putted really well on the front nine, and everything seemed to be going in. I was able to execute the shots I wanted to hit. However, made a couple of errant drives on the back nine, got too aggressive there, which resulted in double-bogeys and then I three-putted the 17th,” said Wang, who turned 25 on Saturday, a week after finishing tied second in Yeangder TPC.

“But all’s good. At least I had made enough on the front to lose on the back. The game is still feeling good, so I am excited about tomorrow. I’m actually feeling more relaxed compared to last week.”

This is the 39th edition of the tournament, which has been a part of the Asian Tour schedule since 2000.