HUA HIN: Big-hitting Chapchai Nirat, nicknamed 'King Kong' by his peers, muscled his way past halfway leader Gunn Charoenkul in the third round of the Singha Panasonic Hua Hin Open yesterday.
Chapchai Nirat.
The burly Thai sizzled to a 66 for a 12-under total of 204 and a slender one-shot lead over countryman Gunn, who carded a 70 in his bid for a third title on the Asean PGA Tour this season.
“It was more or less a perfect day, pretty much error-free,” said the 31-year-old Chapchai, who turned professional when he was just 15.
“The course is tight off the tee so hitting fairways is the key to giving yourself chances.”
Veteran Prayad Marksaeng, who learned the game here at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, is four behind the leader after posting an even-par 72.
Poom Saksansin was tied for third with Prayad after a 68.
Defending champion Phachara Khongwatmai, whose victory as a 14-year-old amateur last year made headlines around the world, made up for his disappointing second round 75 with a two-under 70 and was six shots off the pace.
Gunn, who heads the Asean PGA Tour money list thanks to victories at the season-opening Singha Esan Open and the Melaka Championship, played in the final group with Chapchai and kept his nose in front until the final holes.
Chapchai turned on the after burners down the stretch and birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th.
A bogey on the 17th saw Gunn, who started the round three ahead of Chapchai, fall out of top spot but he matched the new leader’s final-hole birdie, thanks to a brilliant recovery from the trees, to set up a last-day shoot-out.