Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader, staked his claim for a second victory this season by posting a five-under-par 67 to take the third-round lead in the US$100,000 Combiphar Players Championship.
Six birdies and just one dropped shot saw him move to 13 under par at Parahyangan Golf, for a one-shot advantage over Kade McBride from Australia, who carded a 68.
Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the overnight leader, fired a 70 and is one stroke further behind – in what is the 13th stop on this year’s ADT and the sixth and final visit of the year to Indonesia.
“I putted really well today, compared with yesterday and the first day,” said Chonlatit.
“It’s a tough course! The pin positions are difficult but at least the greens are soft so you can stop the ball. I found all the par fives in two and two putted.”
Chonlatit won The 2nd Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational supported by Nomura in August for his maiden ADT win and has also amassed four other top-10s, including a joint runner-up finish in the Blue Canyon Open.
McBride eagled the par-five second to make his move and while he was able to make four birdies later on, he did make two bogeys.
Suteepat, who sits in third place on the Order of Merit following two victories in Indonesia over the last one month, was on course to stay out in front but made double on the par-four 13th, which were his only dropped shots of the day.
He won the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur in August, and the following month the OB Golf Invitational Jababeka.
Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan is in solo fourth, three behind the leader, after a 69, one ahead of countryman Denwit Boriboonsub, in with a 73.
With the season starting to draw to a conclusion, the pressure is mounting as the top-10 on the Final Order of Merit earn playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2023.
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