Asian Tour: Phachara breaks away from pack with birdie-filled back 9 at International Series Thailand
- Thai star’s 9-under 63 leaves him 3 shots clear of the field at Black Mountain Golf Club
- Fellow countryman Poosit Supupramai fires course-record equalling 62 to stay in hunt
Phachara Khongwatmai emerged from a packed leader board to take the third-round lead in the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club on Saturday.
The Thai star fired a nine-under 63 to lead on 20 under by three from countrymen Poosit Supupramai and Itthipat Buranayarat, American Sihwan Kim, India’s Karandeep Kochhar and Doyeob Mun from Korea.
Poosit matched the course record with a 62, while Itthipat and Kim fired 65s. Kochhar returned a 66 while Mun came in with a 68.
Overnight leader Ryo Hisatsune from Japan carded a 71 and is 15 under.
Phachara has only dropped one shot in three days and made nine birdies in his third round, including six on the back nine, with three on the trot from the 16th.
“I have been playing well for a while, so I felt like a good round was coming,” said the 22-year-old, who also shot 63 on day one. “The course is possible to shoot low score, but you still have to play well.”
The rising star finally won his first Asian Tour event at the end of last year at the Laguna Phuket Championship, after years of coming close, including six runner-up finishes.