LOCAL HERO LEADS IN TAIWAN MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR

Taipei: Local hope Tsai Chi-huang celebrated his 44^th birthday with a seven-under-par 65 as he opened up a six-shot lead in the third round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters today.

The co-overnight leader Tsai put himself in prime position of repeating his triumph in the event in 2002 as he posted a three-day total of eight-under-par 208 in relatively calm conditions at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Baek Seuk-hyun of South Korea carded a 71, courtesy of a chip-in birdie on 17 to lie in second place and is in the running of winning his first Asian Tour title at the US$600,000 event. 
Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna was a further shot back in third followed by Malaysia’s Danny Chia, who shot a third consecutive 72.

Tsai, winner of the 1997 Taiwan Open and 1998 Taiwan Masters, wielded a hot putter as he birdied the last three holes in a round of eight birdies and one bogey. The veteran grew up playing at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club and took advantage of his local knowledge

“I know this course very well. I played here so many times when I was a boy. I felt pretty relaxed out there but I’m shocked with my lead. It is amazing,” said Tsai, who made 25 putts.

“My game came together. I was hitting it well off the tees and my irons were hot. If I can continue playing like this tomorrow, then I’m quite confident I can win,” he added.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72) Yardage: 6,923

208 TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 74-69-65.

214 BAEK Seuk-hyun (SKOR) 70-73-71.

215 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 70-73-72.

216 Danny CHIA (MAS) 72-72-72.

217 Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 75-74-68,  SIDDIKUR (BAN) 72-72-73.

218 CHAN Yih-shin (TPE) 74-74-70, Guido VAN DER VALK (NED) 73-72-73, Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN) 71-73-74.

220 CHEN Hao-sen (TPE) 72-76-72, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 75-73-72, Angelo QUE (PHI) 70-75-75, WANG Shih-jui (TPE) 70-73-77.

221 Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 73-76-72, WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 73-76-72, Sam CYR (USA) 73-76-72, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-75-75, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 71-73-77.