Khon Kaen, Thailand, August 18 - Unheralded Gunn Charoenkul maintained his grip on the US$65,000 Singha E-San Open today after firing a third round a two-under-par 70 at Singha Park Golf Club.
He leads by two strokes from Indonesian Rory Hie with Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung a stroke further back. Both players also carded 70 in the third event of the year on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
Gunn, aged 20, turned professional last year and is playing the tournament of his life having led the tournament since day one.
Four birdies on the trot starting from the eighth cemented his lead although he dropped shots on 13 and 15 to allow the chasing pack to draw closer.
“I got ahead of myself after those four birdies. I will learn from that and make sure in the final round I don’t make the same mistake. Rory and Nick are far more experienced so it will be a tough battle,” said Gunn.
Gunn leads the tournament on 15-under-par 201 and is looking for his first victory as a professional. He recorded his best finish on the ASEAN PGA Tour last year when he ended equal ninth in the Ancora Classic in Indonesia.
The young man from Pattaya manages his golf schedule while also studying marketing at University in Thailand.
Both Hie and Fung have tasted victory once before on the ASEAN PGA Tour and have come close to winning many times.
Hie carded a steady bogey free round with birdies on three and 11.
The Indonesian claimed the 2008 International Championship on the ASEAN PGA Tour just months after turning professional.
Last year he burst through at the top level by finishing second in both the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta and the Indonesia PGA Championship, both on OneAsia.
Fung was on course to finish the day tied with Gunn but made bogey on 16 and 17.
He is also looking for his second ASEAN PGA win to add to his success in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam, which was a Matchplay event.
Defending champion Udorn Duangdecha from Thailand gave himself an outside chance of victory by shooting a best of the day 67 to sit seven off the lead.
Leading third round scores (Par 72, Thai unless stated):
201 - Gunn Charoenkul 64 67 70
203 - Rory Hie (INA) 67 66 70
204 - Nicholas Fung (MAS) 67 67 70
205 - Piya Swangarunporn 68 70 67
206 - Rattanon Wannasrichan 69 67 70
208 - Udorn Duangdecha 70 71 67, Michael Tran (VNM) 68 70 70
210 - Thaworn Wiratchant 70 72 68, Sirapong Maitreeyuenyong 69 71 70, Pijit Petchkasem 66 71 73, Wisut Artjanawat 69 68 73
211 - Prom Meesawat 70 71 70, Thitiphun Chuayprakong 72 66 73, Atthaphon Sriboonkaew 69 68 74
212 - Arnond Vongvanij 70 69 73
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