ASIAN TOUR REPORT AND LEADING SCORES

AUSSIE ROOKIE CAMERON SMITH 

EDGES AHEAD IN  SELANGOR MASTERS

 

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: Australian newcomer Cameron Smith snatched a one-shot lead from Thai duo Chapchai Nirat and Sattaya Supupramai after a bruising third round at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters today

Smith, the 2013 Australian amateur champion, battled to an even par 71 which included three bogeys over his closing four holes at a demanding Seri Selangor Golf Club to put himself in position for a maiden Asian Tour victory.

Big-hitting Chapchai, a three-time winner but not since 2009, shot a 69 while Sattaya moved into contention with a 68 which included six birdies and two dropped shots over his last three holes at the  US $410,000 event.

Current Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States kept himself in the hunt for a second title in three weeks with a battling 69 which left him two back alongside Australian Jake Higginbottom and Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao.

An ailing overnight leader Anirban Lahiri of India struggled to a 76 which included two closing double bogeys and ended a tough day three shots behind Smith.

The 21-year-old Smith led into the final round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters in April before settling for tied second place behind Lahiri. The Aussie is determined to go one better at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters.

“I’ve been in this position a couple of times now. Hopefully I can close the deal. I need to stay patient and stick to my game plan. With a bit of luck, hopefully I can win,” said Smith, who has a three-day aggregate of eight-under-par 205.

Two back at the start of the day, Smith looked menacing, holing a birdie on 11 and another 25-foot eagle on 13 to surge ahead of the pack. He three putted the 15^th hole for bogey and errant shots on 16 and 18 led to further shots.

 

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 213 (3x71) Yardage 6,955

205 - Cameron SMITH (AUS) 68-66-71.

206 - Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 68-70-68, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 68-69-69.

207 - HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 67-73-67, David LIPSKY (USA) 72-66-69, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 72-65-70.

208 - Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 64-68-76.

209 - Kieran PRATT (AUS) 69-72-68, S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND) 66-70-73.

210 - Ryan YIP (CAN) 71-70-69, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 70-70-70, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 70-70-70, KIM Gi-whan (SKOR) 73-66-71, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 70-68-72.

211 - Adam GROOM (AUS) 68-75-68, Paul PETERSON (USA) 69-71-71, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 70-70-71, Carlos PIGEM (ESP) 71-68-72, Scott BARR (AUS) 70-69-72.