Palembang, October 26 - Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Nicholas Fung from Malaysia moved into a share of the lead in the US$150,000 Palembang Musi Championship today to set up their second successive final day face off.
Gunn beat Fung in a sudden-death play-off in the previous ASEAN PGA Tour event, the Singha Esan Open in August, and with a four shot lead over the rest of the field they are set for another exciting showdown.
The Thai golfer started the day with a one shot lead over Fung at Palembang Golf Club and shot a five-under-par 67.
Fung caught him with a 66 to leave them tied on 14-under-par 202.
“I am a bit disappointed as I made a great eagle on 14 to lead after holing a 25 yard chip shot but then I three putted the next for a bogey,” said 20-year-old Gunn.
“Fung came at me with a lot of birdies today so I am happy I responded well.”
His victory in the Singha Esan Open was his first win since turning professional last year. He claimed an event last week on the local Thai tour, also in a play-off, to quickly establish himself as one of his country’s most exciting young players.
Fung finished second here last year finishing five shots behind Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat.
“Let’s start the play-off now,” joked Fung.
Like Gunn he has triumphed once before on the ASEAN PGA Tour, in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam, and with a host of other top finishes he is hungry for victory.
“It will be tough to win though as Gunn is playing really well but I really want to catch him this time,” added Fung.
Both players also have an eye on qualification for the Barclays Singapore Open from November 8 to 11.
The leading three players on the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit after this event make it through to the US$6 million tournament at Sentosa Golf Club.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list while Fung is fifth, although in third qualification spot as two players above him have gained entry via other channels.
However with first place worth US$24,050, second US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50 much could change in the final round.
Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn, 19th on the Merit list and looking leapfrog dozens of players, is in outright third place after shooting 69.
Two strokes further back are Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam (67), Antonio Lascuna (70) from the Philippines, and Indonesian George Gandranata (67) who recovered from a poor showing yesterday to get back in contention for a podium finish.
Defending champion Wisut fired a 72 and is eight behind the leaders.
He is a stroke ahead of Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who carded a 69.
“I have been hitting the ball really well but just can’t hole a putt. It is a short course so that is why scoring is low but you still need to get the putter working,” said the 44-year-old, who won the Philippine Open earlier this year.
Indonesia's number one player Rory Hie (69) continued his charge and climbed further to a share of 20th, just two shots behind countrymen Andi Yatmo (72) and Andik Mauluddin (74).
Leading third round scores (Par 72):
202 Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68 66, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70 67
206 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69 69
208 Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69 67, George Gandranata (INA) 67 74 67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69 70
209 Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71 72 66, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70 72
210 Jay Bayron (PHI) 72 71 67, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67 72
211 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70 69
212 S Siva Chandran (MAS) 68 75 69, S. Murthy (MAS) 73 70 69, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67 74 71
213 Mohd Rashid Ismail (MAS) 75 70 68, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 73 70 70, Andi Yatmo (INA) 70 71 72, Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70 74
214 Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 72 72 70
215 Rory Hie (INA) 75 71 69, Mohd Hafiy Afiq Suhaili (MAS) 72 70 73
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