Hong Kong: An improved show yesterday helped Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen narrow his deficit to five shots after three days of action at the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
Sangchai Keawcharoen of Thailand.
Sangchai picked up seven birdies but faltered with two bogeys and a double bogey for a three-under-par 67 at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club.
He was overall seventh on 204, five strokes behind leader Jin Cheng of China who posted a 69 for 199.
Starting the third round seven strokes behind the leader, Sangchai recorded an improvement yesterday but the five-stroke margin remains mammoth.
“I took advantage of playing in the morning when the wind was not strong,” he said.
The tournament debutant admitted that it would be hard to catch the leader in the final round.
Jin, who is making his fourth appearance in the event, got a final-hole birdie to fend off challenges from Australia’s Ryan Ruffels (67) and Cameron Davis (67), who were both on 200.
Chun-An Yu of Taiwan (67) and Kim Tae Ho of South Korea (68) were tied for fourth on 202.
In his bid to become the only second Chinese to win the tournament after Guan Tianglang (2012), Jin said that it was hard to say how he was going to plan his final round because of the tough conditions.
“I do not have any plan at the moment,” said the golfer. “I also do not know what will happen.”
Ruffels, the highest ranked amateur in the tournament at No.8, said the conditions were really hard to play in, giving everyone a fair chance of getting past the leader in the final round.
Atiruj Winaicharoenchai carded a 68 for tie for 12th place on 207 while Ekpharit Wu was a stroke down further after a 74.
Meanwhile, the organising committee said the event could be shortened to 54 holes.
“Despite inclement weather being forecast for the final day, the competition committee will do everything it can to complete the final round," it said in a statement.
“If play cannot be completed, the result of this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship may be declared after 54 holes.”