Despite ‘annoying bogey’, Harding stays ahead

[rooster59]

Despite ‘annoying bogey’, Harding stays ahead

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 

The Nation

 

Justin Harding

 

Chon Buri - South African Justin Harding held on to a two-shot lead despite a stiff third-round performance shooting a 71 in the US$500,000 Royal Cup at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

 

Using an unorthodox long putter, the current Sunshine Tour Order of Merit leader saved pars all day before he finally gave in to his nerves, hitting his first bogey of the week to end the day at 11 under-par-199. 

 

Defending champion Shiv Kapur of India was breathing down his neck at 201.

 

 

“It was a strange day. I didn’t enjoy bogeying in the last. That was annoying. I played solid, couldn’t complain about that. I guess it’s just unlucky,” said the 32-year-old from Cape Town. 

 

 

SHIV KAPUR 

 

“I felt kind of happy that the bogey finally came. But I would have liked it if it had come earlier in the round. Bogeying in the last hole really drives me crazy,” added the winner of the Indonesian Open two weeks ago.

The in-form Harding, with three wins and one second-place finish from his last six events, remains one of the heavy favourites going into Sunday’s final round, which can be viewed on TrueSport HD 3 from 11am onwards.

 

 

CHAPCHA NIRAT 

 

Kapur, who has won twice in the Kingdom –including the 2005 Master of Asia in Chachoengsao – had five birdies against a bogey for a 67, which put him in contention to maintain the crown.

 

“The wind changed direction and despite some rain yesterday the greens got quite crusty. It was hard to hold the ball on the green and tough to hold the putts. It was one of those days you tried to stay patient and you got rewarded for that,” said the 36-year-old from New Delhi.

 

The Indian is vying to become the first player to defend the title on the Asian Tour since Lee Westwood won the Indonesian Masters in 2011-12.

 

“I’m the kind of player who looks at the leader’s board. It’s good to see I got to close the gap a little bit from starting the day six shots back. I hope to have some positive momentum from the start,” Kapur said.

 

 

PACHARA KHONGWATMAI

 

American Todd, with a 69, was at third on 203, one ahead of Australian Mark Brown (68) and Japanese Naoto Nakanishi (70).

 

Four-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai Nirat shot five birdies against two bogeys for a 67 to sit five shots behind the leader with a total six-under-par 204. 

 

“It was very windy today and the greens were tough. I tried to play safe in these tough conditions,” said the 35-year-old Bangkokian, whose last Tour victory was at the 2014 Selangor Masters.

 

“It’s hard for players to shoot score today because the lies and the greens are tough. About the final day, I’m not expecting anything at this point but to go out there and hit each shot as well as I can,” said Chapchai, who shared sixth place with China’s Liu Yanwei (70) and Josh Younger of Australia (70).

 

 

Teenage rising star Pachara Khongwatmai was one of the two players apart from Australian Dale Brandt-Richards to shoot the round’s lowest score of 66. He was at tied 19th with a total 207 while veteran Thongchai Jaidee, with a dismal 73, followed two shots behind with 209.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/sports/30350999

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-29

[AhFarangJa]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Despite ‘annoying bogey’, Harding stays ahead

Should have used these........

 

  I could not resist it,