Thaindian News

By V. Krishnaswamy
Hua Hin (Thailand), Dec 18 (IANS) After looking good for a top-10 finish at various points through the last three days, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia settled for an adventurous 72 on the third day at the Black Mountain Masters golf Saturday. As the sun shone at its brightest after a gloomy, windy and even cold Friday, it was very warm during the third round.

Chowrasia and Himmat Rai both had bumpy rides and ended with 72 and 77, respectively. Chowrasia stayed at three-under for the week and from tied 28th slipped to tied 33rd, while Rai slipped further down from tied 58th to 64th.

The leader at 14-under 204 was Piya Swangarunporn, the 27-year-old Thai with a tongue-twister of a name, who came into this week’s Black Mountain Masters through one of spots reserved for local Thai PGA players. With one more day to go, Piya, who was third at the start of the third round, is on the threshold of a career-changing win. He fired four birdies on the back nine, including a birdie-birdie finish to go to 14-under and one ahead of first round co-leader Tetsuji Hiratsuka (67).

Two times before this year, Piya has come into the field as one of the country spots, but gone on to finish in top-10 - he was tied sixth at the Asian Tour International and then tied seventh at King’s Cup. This week he could find the breakthrough win.

“I am not going to think about the players behind me. I am just going to stick to my plan. If I am not nervous I have a chance to win. I take two deep breaths before every shot to try and keep my calm,” said Piya.

The little-known Piya turned pro back in 2002 and has eight local wins on Thai PGA, but has never led into an Asian Tour event. One of the numerous Thai waiting to bloom, Piya has made less than $19,000 on Asian Tour.

It was like riding a roller-coaster for Chowrasia, who struck six birdies, four bogeys and a double in an even par 72. At one stage on the front nine, where he was blazing hot, he had four birdies in a row from fourth to seventh to move within sight of a top-10.

Then just as suddenly he plummeted. After back-to-back bogeys on eighth and ninth, he had a double on 11th and another bogey on 12th. From four-under after seven, he was one-over after 12. A bogey followed on 14th. Chowrasia, however, pulled himself up with a birdie-birdie finish for a 72.

“Birdies came down like rain and then vanished. Then followed bogeys in a similar manner, some missed putts, a lipout and a bad shot or two. Again at finish, a couple of big putts fell for two birdies, so good to finish like that after a triple bogey finish in second round,” said a smiling Chowrasia, who came here to complete his minimum nine starts and ensure a top-65 finish on Order of Merit.

“I was playing really well on the front nine. The hitting and putting combined well. Then on eighth I missed a putt and on ninth I went into the bunker and then things fell apart,” he added.

Himmat Rai had a tough lesson in golf. After a glorious 66 on opening day, the last two have been a struggle in rough weather. He had three doubles and three bogeys besides four birdies in an up-and-down round.

Hiratsuka, who held a share of the lead after the first round, soared on the wings of no less than three eagles in the third round as he compiled one of the day’s two 67s - the other one coming from the 43-year-old Myanmarese veteran Zaw Moe. Hiratsuka was sole second at 13-under 205.

Overnight leader Lee Sung struggled with four bogeys and just one birdie in his 75 and dropped to tied third. Earlier Asia’s golfing superstar Thongchai Jaidee, looking for his 14th win on the Tour and his second in two weeks, shot a 68.

Australian Marcus Both, who has had top-10s in his last two appearances on the Tour in Hero Honda Indian Open (tied 5th) and Cambodian Open (tied 6th), played a steady bogey free 69 that carried him up to nine-under 207. Zaw Moe, the colourful Udorn Duangdecha (69) and Englishman Simon Griffiths, looking to seal his Tour card, shared the sixth place at eight-under.

Eight players, including four Thais - Thaworn Wiractchant (70), Chapchai Nirat (71), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (74), Namchoak Tantiapokakul (77) - were at seven-under in tied ninth.