NO STOPPING UNFLAPPABLE RATTANON AT SJM MACAO OPEN

Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan kept the lead in the US$1 million SJM Macao Open at Macau Golf and Country Club for the third straight day, once again producing a determined display, shooting a three-under-par 67.

It remains mainly an all Thai affair at this stage, as Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul is one-shot back in second, following a 66, with his compatriot Pavit Tangkamolprasert joint third along with Chinese-Taipei’s Liu Yung-hua.

Pavit, the champion here in 2016, carded a 67, while Lui shot a 68. They are five behind the leader.

Rattanon had a two-shot lead over Gunn at the start of the day, and stayed in front by making four birdies and one bogey – slightly more conservative playing compared with his first two rounds of 61 and 66 but a solid effort considering the pressure he was under on moving day.

“Today was really tough for me because I felt a little bit pressure, but I tried not to think too much about it,” said the leader.

“Also, today my tee shots were not as good I wanted, so that's why I couldn’t score more under par.”

Rattanon has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the Thailand Open in 2017, and is also a winner on the Asian Development Tour, claiming the 2015 Taifong Open.

On playing with Gunn and Suteepat Prateeptienchai today, he said: “It felt like the All Thailand Tour, because we’ve known each other for more than 10 years, we had a lot of fun today on the course.”

He also has the benefit of his girlfriend Manuschaya Zeemakorn, a Thai LPGA Tour player, caddying for him.

Both him and Gunn made birdie on the last to put some daylight between them and the chasing pack.

“I am really happy to be in this position,” said Gunn, desperate to win for the first time on the Asian Tour having finished runner-up on three occasions.

“I am still battling a slice, fighting old bad habits as I am coming over the top of it but it’s under control. I’ll put some more work in on the range. I putted great and holed some crucial putts.

“Just need to make sure Rattanon doesn’t get too far ahead tomorrow.”

Pavit’s victory here eight years ago was his first on the Asian Tour. He beat India’s Anirban Lahiri in a sudden-death play-off and would dearly love to complete the double tomorrow.

Said the Thai: “Oh, it would be fantastic [to win], especially, you know, this week and tomorrow, it's the 13th of October, our King Rama Nine passed away on that day. So, it would be very emotional, definitely.”

Having finished second and fifth the last two weeks on Tour he will fancy his chances on Sunday.

“I think just I found a rhythm hitting my irons and my putting has been very good for the past two weeks. So yeah, that's good thing, because I have been able to keep the momentum from the last two weeks into this week,” he said.

Asian Tour number one John Catlin is in a group of players in joint fifth place. The American fired a 68 and is six back from Rattanon and has a lot of ground to make up if he is to add the SJM Macao Open title to his International Series Macau win, recorded here back in March.

American Brian Harman, winner of The Open last year, also came in with a 68 and is nine under, while Australian Min Woo Lee, the defending champion, returned a 67 and is seven under.