Prayad Marksaeng...RAISING HOPES

Diminutive Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng fired an inspired nine-under-par 63 to take the lead after the third round of the $1mn Thailand Open yesterday, raising hopes of a local winner. The 44-year-old fired an eagle and seven birdies at the Suwan Golf and Country Club to close in on what would be his first victory on the OneAsia tour. His eagle came on the par-five fifth where he holed a huge 60-foot putt. “I am using new irons for the first time this week and have had a new driver in the bag for a couple of weeks and the clubs have really helped me with my game,” said Prayad. “I used to hit my irons with a bit of a hook but with the new irons they are going dead straight. I have a lot more control.” The Thai star is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour and won three times in Japan in 2008, but has yet to take a OneAsia tournament. He leads the event on 16-under-par 200 by two strokes from Korea’s Choi Jin-ho—one of 41 players who had to complete their second rounds on Saturday morning because of lightning stopping play on Friday. Choi shot a 67 in his third round and was joint leader with Prayad for much of the day, having birdied five of his first six holes, but hit his tee shot into the water on the par-three 16th and made a bogey. Choi, 27, blamed the heat for his slip-up, saying he was not focused enough. But he added: “I putted well today. Obviously when you are putting well, golf is pretty easy.” Australian Andre Stolz (64) - who claimed OneAsia’s season-opening US$1mn Indonesia PGA Championship—and China’s Wu Ashun (67) were one stroke further back on 203. Overnight leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand came in with a 71 and was six behind the leader. Meanwhile rising teen star Panuphol Pittayarat celebrated his first ever hole in one in competitive play, holing his tee shot at the 176-yard sixth. “It was a bit downwind and I hit an eight iron,” said the 18-year-old. “It took about five seconds from the ball hitting the green to it dropping in the hole. “I just raised both arms above my head in salute—it was a great thrill.”