Pagunsan, Mo share honours after the third round; Prayad three strokes adrift

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan shot a solid 71 to share a three-shot lead with South Korea's Mo Joong-kyung after three rounds of the US$300,000 Singha Thailand PGA Championship yesterday.

Playing alongside Mo and Prayad Marksaeng under an overcast sky at the Santiburi Country Club, the overnight leader picked up two birdies on the second and 12th holes and suffered a bogey on the 10th to finish with a three-day total of 14-under-par 202.

Mo, from Seoul had an uneven day. Despite three bogeys, he fired four birdies and an eagle on the 13th to finish with a three-under-par 69 to establish himself as the co-leader.

Mo is seeking a second Asian Tour crown since his maiden win at  the 1996 Guam Open.

Prayad Marksaeng laboured through a disappointing day and a one-ver 73 to fall three strokes behind an in joint third. He was among the leaders after 14 holes before a bogey on the 15th and a disastrous double bogey at 17 pushed him back.

"Actually Juvic didn't play well today but I just didn't grab the chance. I didn't putt well and missed a lot of fairways. But it's just a three-shot difference. I tend to fight well when I'm behind,'' said the local  hope who managed to save par on the 18th despite sinking his tee shot into the pond. He was tied with Ben Leong of Malaysia and American Han Lee.

Local rookie Pariya Junhasavasdikul came out of nowhere to fire the day's lowest score of 65, which featured an opening eagle, to settle in joint sixth.

A stroke behind in lone third was Choengchai Panpimpo. Former Asian Tour No 1 Thaworn Wiratchant, Prom Meesawat and Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk were tenth with seven-under-par 209.