Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ireland’s Shane Lowry share a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
Each player didn’t drop a shot with Aphibarnrat signing for a five-under par 66 and Lowry a six-under 65 to move to 14-under par in the $US 7m on the Regnm Carya course.
Three players – Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and England’s Just Rose, with seven-under par 64s, along with first and second round leading Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, who posted a disappointing 73 – share third place on 12-under par.
Aphibarnrat had arrived into Turkey last Monday concerned for his misplaced luggage and golf clubs and while they safely arrived the next morning the 28-year old Bangkok-born golfer is now staring at thoughts of a $US 1.6m first prize cheque.
“I am very pleaed to come from five strokes behind at the start of my round to be at the top of the leaderboard,” he said.
“The way I’m playing is quite comfortable. I really enjoy this moment.”
The affable Thai golfer has enjoyed three wins on the European Tour and while runner-up last month in the Italian Open he has not tasted success since winning twice in 2015, first in China and then later that year for a first time on European soil with victory in Scotland.
Aphibarnrat, however, is clearly benefitting from two big decisions this season and firstly to begin working with new coach and the renowned Peter Cowen, who is the long-time coacl to 2016 Open Champion, Henrik Stenson.
And Aphibarnrat began undergoing an intense weight-reduction regime reducing his weight from a peak of 108 kilograms and managing to already trimming that by some 18 kilograms.
The third round was also the occasion of the birthday of Aphibarnrat’s father and he celebrated the occasion by arranging a number of fellow Tour colleagues, including Stenson who is his father’s idol, to extend birthday wishes.
“I asked five top players this morning if they would let me video a message and I especially have to thank Henrik, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts,” Aphibarnrat said.
“Henrik, it’s really special for him and he is his idol. He never ask me for photos but he ask me last week at the World Golf Championships. That’s why I try to beat him; that’s because my dad love you too much.”
Similarly, Lowry heads to the final day with the same record as Aphibarnrat having won three times on the European Tour but with the last also two years ago.
“It’s been a while since I’ve won so I can’t really remember what it was like,” he said.
“I just have to get out there tomorrow and play my game and do what I do every day. If it’s good enough, it’s good enough. If it’s not, so be it and that’s the way it is.”
Colsaerts went into day three leading by four and had extended his lead to five shots when he birdied the seventh hole before being just three clear standing on the 11th tee where the Brussels golfer found water in taking a double bogey ‘6’.
Bogeys then followed at 12 and 16 for Colsaerts two off the lead and sharing third with Rose and Harrington.
Rose capped his round with four birdies in succession from the 12th hole as the current World No. 6 seeks to secure back-to-back victories for a first time in his career, and after winning last week’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
“Today was the best I’ve played all week, and maybe even better than last week,” said Rose.
“I just felt really comfortable out on the golf course today. I simplified a couple things. Been working on a few things on the range, and I continue to work on them all week, week-in and week-out, and continue to work even though I’m playing tournaments.”
Strangely, Rose’s score equalled a third round 64 on route to victory in the 2015 Honk Kong Open and his prior last success in Europe before last week.
And Harrington needed just 21 putts in signing for his lowest round since a 63 on route to victory in last year’s Portugal Masters and the Dubliner’s last victory toast.
