Singapore’s Mardan Mamat has taken the outright third round lead with a six-under-par 66 at the US$500,000 King’s Cup on Saturday. Thailand’s Thaworn Thaworn, a 15-time Asian Tour winner, signaled his intent of capturing his second Order of Merit crown by storming home with four birdies in his closing five holes to stay one back of Mardan with his three-day total of 16-under-par 200 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavadikul remained on course for his second Asian Tour win when he returned with a 66 to take third place while Spanish rookie Javi Colomo signed for a 65 to share fourth place with Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij, Piya Swangarunporn and defending champion Udorn Duangdecha on 202.
It was the battle of the 45-year-olds as Mardan and Thaworn hogged the limelight at the King’s Cup which is the third last event of the 2012 Asian Tour Schedule. Mardan knew that he had to remain calm after he could only manage to make the turn in one-under. Two birdies on the 10th and 11th holes soon restored that much-needed confidence for Singapore’s number one golfer who then went on to birdie three of his last four holes.