GOLF: POOM MAINTAINS LEAD, ROSE ON COURSE TO BE WORLD NO. 1
Poom Saksansin maintained his three-shot lead to inch closer to a second Indonesia Masters triumph while Justin Rose remained on course to become world number one even after the Briton’s title defence appeared over on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Poom held on to his overnight lead as he followed his second round 63 with a two-under-par 70, which included three birdies as against a bogey on the fifth hole.
His 54-hole aggregate of 16-under-par 200 puts him in the pole position for a second title, having triumphed at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club two years ago.
Poom, together with his team mate Sunghoon Kang of South Korea, upset Stenson and Alexander Levy 5&4 in the opening fourball match of theEurAsiaCupinMalaysiain January.
Stenson carded 68, the lowest score on a wind-swept day when only 12 players broke par, and vowed not to go soft at the Thai on Sunday.
“Not at all, if I have a chance,” said the Swede who sank five birdies, including a hat- trick of them in his front nine, to lie three shots ahead of Thai Jazz Janewattananond (69).
“We will see if he can go easy on the old guy instead... I know he is a very capable player and he has shown that for the first three days,” he said after the penultimate round of Asian Tour’s season-ending event.
After two rounds of 68, Rose birdied the final hole to sign for a one-under 71 and drop further behind in the title race. REUTERS