Pattaya: Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond clung on to his lead after draining a 17-foot birdie putt on the last to share the spoils with India's Gaganjeet Bhullar, who posted a second straight six-under-par 65, in the Queen's Cup yesterday.
The 22-year-old Jazz, who held a share of the overnight three-shot lead, birdied the par-five second hole and reeled in 12 straight pars before sinking back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16. He dropped a shot on 17 but recovered with a birdie on the last for a round of 68.
Jazz, chasing for a second Asian Tour win, sits atop the leaderboard with Bhullar on 15-under-par 198 total, while Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand trails the leading duo by one in third place on his own following a 65 at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
"It was a slow round for me today. I made only one birdie and then a lot of pars, didn't birdie again until later in the round. It was a pretty good finish with three birdies and one bogey. It was quite tough out there with the wind," said Jazz, who will be making his major debut at The British Open at Carnoustie next month.
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India. PHOTO: AFP
He earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening Singapore Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Jazz added: "I wasn't able to play my 'A' game today but I tried my best to get the job done. I just wanted to shoot an under-par round in this windy conditions. I hit a good shot out of the bunker on 15 and that birdie kind of got my momentum going.
"I just want to go out there and play my best golf tomorrow. If things go my way, I will win. But if it doesn't, I still get a lot of opportunities in the remaining tournaments I will be playing."
The 30-year-old Bhullar was happy with his overall performance.
"I kept the ball in play today. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. I just kept on giving myself a lot of birdie opportunities.
"Nothing special tomorrow. I will just continue to do my own thing and try and repeat what I did in the last 54 holes. The feeling is good. I will focus on hitting as many fairways and greens as I can tomorrow and hopefully hole some putts."
Pavit moved into contention after matching Bhullar's 65, with the seventh-hole eagle the highlight of his round.
"I played the same today, pretty solid," said Pavit. "I didn't make any putts on the front nine but I managed to hit it close to the flag for birdie on the fifth and then make the eagle on the seventh.
"I hit a good drive with a 3-wood and then a solid 5-iron over the trees which took a bounce on the green and rolled to about half a foot for eagle."
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe returned with the day's best score of 63 to sit two shots off the pace in tied-fourth position alongside local amateur Sadom Kaewkanjana and overnight co-leader Kim Si-Hwan, who carded a 70.