Thailand’s Itthipat leads penultimate round at PGM

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat stayed on course for his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) win, after carding one-under-par 71 at the penultimate round of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) MIDF Championship yesterday.

The 25-year-old Thai leads the tournament with a 12-underpar 204 total, two strokes ahead of American Sam Gillis who carded a 68 to take second place on 206 at the RM225,000 event at the Kota Seriemas Golf and Country Club, Nilai.

Another Thai, Poom Pattaropong placed himself in third placing on 209 following a 70, while Singapore’s Abdul Hadi secured fourth place following a 73.

Itthipat, currently ranked 13th on the ADT Order of Merit, traded one birdie against two bogeys to turn in 37, he pressed on to grab two more birdies on his way home for a 34.

“I was a little rushed at the start of the round because I felt excited being in the lead. I did not play as good as I did the first two rounds but I managed to make a couple of good putts.

“I am feeling a little tired from playing so many holes today but I will just have a good rest tonight and try my best tomorrow (today),” said Itthipat, as quoted in the ADT’s statement.

The 23-year-old Gillis, who started the round with a fivestroke deficit, managed to find some momentum in his third round to move into contention.

“I have not been hitting it very good the last couple of rounds but I managed to find something today in my swing. I gave myself a lot of chances for birdies and made a pretty good birdie on hole three when I pitched it close from 80 yards and almost holed it,” he said.