Thaworn powers to joint lead at Malaysian Masters

Thaworn powers to joint lead at Malaysian Masters

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Thaworn Wiratchant cruised into position for back-to-back titles in Asia when he carded a five-under-par 67 to become the joint third-round leader at the US$275,000 Malaysian Masters Saturday.

The 34-year-old Thai, who has been oozing with confidence since winning the Singapore Open in June, put on another masterful performance to join overnight leader Scott Kammann at the top of the leaderboard at 13-under-par 203.

The American ground out a 69, holing a 10-foot birdie at the last to tie the Thai.

The leading duo are a stroke ahead of China's Zhang Lian-wei, who signed for a four-under-par 68 while Taiwanese veteran Chung Chun-hsing kept himself in contention with a bogey-free 70 that left him two shots off the pace.

Thaworn, who has one of the most unorthodox swings on the Tour, carded five birdies at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, including an unlikely chip-in at the par three 17th. "I'm confident of winning again.

"Somehow, I've been very confident with my game after my success in Singapore. I can see myself lifting the trophy tomorrow.

"I pushed my tee shot at 17 into the grass bunker when someone in the crowd distracted me. But chipping in for birdie was great and I should thank the guy who made the noise. I missed a birdie opportunity at 18 (for the outright lead) but I will birdie it tomorrow to win the title," said the self-assured Thai.

Thaworn has found great success in his forays to Malaysia in the past, winning a total of eight titles including the 1989 Malaysian PGA Championship and the 1996 Sabah Masters, which was his first Asian Tour success.

Winning Sunday would earn Thaworn a slice of history as this will be the final Malaysian Masters. Organizers have announced that it will be replaced with the $500,000 Asian Masters, which will be the final stop on the 2002 Asian Tour.

"It would be nice to become the last winner of the Volvo Masters of Malaysia. But I've got to play another 18 holes. My game is very good right now because I've been practicing hard in recent weeks," he said.

Tennessee-born Kammann, who led by one at the halfway stage, only came alive in the inward nine with four birdies against a dropped shot at 17, when he three putted for the first time this week.

For the second day in a row, China's Zhang struggled in the heat. He blitzed the front nine with four birdies, dropping a monster 30-footer at the par four eighth but scrambled on the back nine with a bogey at 10 and birdie at 12.

Malaysia's P. Gunasegaran raised the local cheers when he signed the day's best card of seven-under-par 65 to move to joint fifth place on 10-under, three behind the leaders. Victory would make Gunasegaran the first and last winner of the Malaysian Masters as he was the inaugural champion in 1994 before the event joined the Asian Tour.