Kapur shoots flawless 69, aim for a top-10 finish

BANGKOK: Shiv Kapur reeled in an error-free three-under 69, equalling the best by an Indian this week to be in the reckoning for a top-10 finish to round off the season at the Volvo Masters of Asia and be among the to ten in the Order of merit for the third year running.

The 25-year-old Delhi golfer, currently 11th on the Asian Tour, was fourth and eighth last two years.

Overnight joint leader Filipino Pagunsan knocked in a brilliant 66 with seven birdies and one bogey to open up a four-shot lead over second placed Scotsman Simon Yates, who himself is back in contention with a 67 in third round.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, whose 68 helped him to 10-under, and Mark Brown, with a two-under, were tied for second place in the $750,000 season-ending tournament at the Thai Country Club.

Kapur, with a five under 211, moved from overnight 22nd to 13th, all other Indians also made an upward move - S.S.P Chowrasia (71) moved from 22nd to 20th, Rahil Gangjee with a two-under 70 is tied 21st, up from 33rd, and Gaurav Ghei (72) 43rd from 49th overnight.

"I think I needed to get at least another two shots to have an outside chance to win," said Kapur. "If I were a betting man, I would put it on Juvic (Pagunsan) who is now 10 ahead of me."

Kapur said his goal was to finish as high as possible after playing such a solid round in tough, windy conditions. "To have come back bogey-free and birdies on fourth, eighth and 15th is highly satisfying," he said.

Chowrasia looked like coming through fine, before dropping a bogey on 18th for the second time in three days. "That was very disappointing, that last bogey. Till then even though I had just two birdies, I was hitting the ball well," he said.

Gangjee opened with a birdie and then slackened off before catching up with three birdies in four holes between 14th and 17th holes for a 70.

Pagunsan, last season's Rookie of the Year, has been growing in confidence since winning his maiden title at the Pertamina Indonesia President Challenge in October. The 29-year-old's looks good to bag the Volvo Masters here.

"My confidence is getting stronger and stronger each day and today I hit really, really well, though I did not expect to shoot 31 on the back nine in such difficult conditions," said Pagunsan, who 15-under-par 201 after three days.

Yates, the multi-talented Scotsman with a new driver which he said added 15 yards to his drives, shot a third round of five-under 67and is now 11-under 205 for three rounds.

"I started really well and was four under through seven holes and eagled the par five 14th, hitting it on with a three wood from 284 yards out which landed 25 feet of the pin. That was nice as the hole was 610 yards," said the Hua Hin-based Yates.

Liang Wen-Chong, who is now just 18 holes away from becoming the first Chinese to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot a tense two-over 74. Despite being 30 th, he can sleep easy with the Order of Merit coming his way.

Needing a win to have any chance of toppling Merit leader Liang, Chapchai carded a 71 to slip 10 shots off the lead in tied 13th place.

Liang admitted: "I've been thinking too much this week. This is also my eighth tournament in a row and I'm a little tired. Last week I felt good (where he finished third in Japan) but this week I have been thinking too much about the Order of Merit."

Marksaeng kept alive local hopes on a day compatriot Chapchai Nirat conceded defeat to Liang in the fight for the Order of Merit crown.

With defending champion Thongchai Jaidee fading out of contention with a disappointing 77, which included an outward 43, Thai hopes were resting on Prayad. But Prayad knows he must regain his touch on the greens on Sunday to overcome a five shot deficit.