PGA: Lahiri overtakes Thomas at CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA— Defending champion Justin Thomas endured a terrible start to the third round of the CIMB Classic and needed a run of five straight birdies to shoot a 1-under 71 Saturday. But the fast finish wasn’t enough to hold the lead.

Thomas was overtaken by Anirban Lahiri, who shone at the TPC Kuala Lumpur with nine birdies for a 65 to open up a four-shot advantage going into the final round on Sunday.

Thomas had two bogeys and a double bogey on the first three holes of the back nine.

“Yeah, it was really just terrible golf for the first 13 holes,” he said. “To be 4-over par out here, it was a very weird feeling. I don’t know.”

At least the 23-year-old Thomas had the five-birdie finish. “I feel like that showed a lot of me and I hope that I can ride the momentum into tomorrow.”

Lahiri’s low score got him to 19under, a mark that could have been better if not for a double bogey on the 12th hole on an otherwise flawless scorecard.

“I just told myself that I got rid of my double-bogey early in the round today and just tried to focus on what I needed to do,” said Lahiri, who was runner-up at the Asian Tour’s Macau Open last week.

Scotland’s Russell Knox played another solid round for a 68, to move into a tie for second with Thomas.

Adam Hadwin, the top Canadian, was at 9-under after a 67 on Saturday.