The wind blew in Phuket yesterday but Scott Barr refused to be blown off course. The 32-year-old Aussie, who is searching for his first Asian Tour victory, had surrendered a one-shot overnight lead and was four behind India's Jeev Milkha Singh with six holes to play at the Blue Canyon Country Club.
'In days gone by I would fallen away,' said Barr, after a rescue act that saw him finish the third round of the Thailand Open with a share of the lead, alongside India's Harmeet Kahlon.
Barr was glad to be back in the clubhouse with a two-over-par 74 for a nine-under 207 total. Kahlon and Angelo Que, of the Philippines, were the big movers of the day, which was interrupted for 45 minutes because of lightning. Both players shot five-under 67s, with Que coming from eight shots behind Barr at the start of the day to be threatening at only one adrift.
Alongside Que were Singh (74), who double-bogeyed the last hole to slip back after leading by two shots at one stage yesterday, and Aussie Scott Strange (73). Then came Richard Lee of New Zealand, who finished with a three-under 69.
Barr has no doubt he can win the US$78,750 first prize today. 'I have a strong mental attitude and I believe I can win this tournament,' he said. 'The way I started [yesterday], in years gone by I would have fallen back, but it's all about hanging in there when the chips are down. I had some bad breaks with some putts but my state of mind is very good.'
Barr dropped three shots over the first 10 holes and watched playing partners Singh and Strange pull away. But birdies at the 15th and 16th holes brought him back into the picture as Strange, who briefly led at 12 under after the seventh hole, and Singh faltered.