Chachoengsao: Local favourite Panuphol Pittayarat birdied the last two holes for a four-under-par 66 to pull one shot clear in the third round of the Thailand Open yesterday.
Playing on his home course, the bubbly Panuphol returned with a bogey free card to lead on 13-under-par 197 and put himself in prime position to win his second Asian Tour title at the Thai Country Club.
Thailand's Poom Saksansin trailed closely in second place after matching Panuphol's 66 while overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut posted a 69 to lie in third place, two shots off the lead at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
Asian Tour rookie Kurt Kitayama stayed in the title hunt following a 66 to share fourth place with four-time Asian Tour winner, Chapchai Nirat, who fired a blistering 64 for a 200 total.
The 25-year-old Panuphol, who won his first Asian Tour title at the Indonesia Open last year, was neck and neck with Poom before he seized the outright lead by holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
"The first 16 holes were very tight. It was hot and humid after the rain suspension but the two last birdies made my day," said Panuphol.
"This is home for me and everything here makes me feel comfortable. I really enjoy playing and practising here. I know the course well but you have to be patient. It is golf and it doesn't mean that you will do well on your home course every day. You have a little bit of advantage.
"My win in Indonesia taught me how to win a golf tournament. I'm going to go out tomorrow and try to have fun," he added.
"The birdie on the last was nice. I hit a perfect drive and approach. My [10 feet] birdie putt slowed down a bit but it eventually fell into the hole so that was nice."
Poom, a two-time Asian Tour winner, also birdied the last to stay in contention of becoming the fifth Thai player to win their National Open since 1965.
"I feel good because I finished under-par. I putted very well but my iron play wasn't as good as I liked it to be. Honestly, I was scared to hit the driver so I hit more fade shots to control my ball. I found a lot more fairways today," said Poom.
"I feel very excited but I cannot think ahead. My plan is to try and finish under-par. I want to win the Thailand Open but if I don't, I hope another Thai player will."
Only four Thai players have won their National Opens since 1965. The last time the Thailand Open had two back-to-back local winners was in 1991 (Suthep Meesawat) and 1992 (Boonchu Ruangkit). Defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan missed the halfway cut.