Thailand’s Tawit Polthai continued the fine form he discovered yesterday, posting another low round to move into a commanding five shot lead heading into the final round of the 2025 PKNS Selangor Masters.

The 30-year-old Thai, who finished fourth in this event in 2023, showed he was getting to grips with the Seri Selangor Golf Club course, and after posting 65 will be fancying his chances of clinching his first Asian Development Tour title.

“Today wasn’t a good start for the first four holes,” he said. “One bogey but then on the par fives, one eagle and one birdie and then my game came back until the 17th, and I just made one bogey on the last hole,” he added.

“I felt a lot of pressure in the first two rounds, just wanting to make the cut, but now its good to be the leader,” he said. “Tomorrow I will just try to focus on my game, try to do the same as the first three days,” he said.

Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra (72) was unable to capture the magic of yesterday’s unofficial club record 63 and finished one over par for the day in solo second place, a final hole bogey putting the seal on a round that never really got going.

In third spot, Juvic Pagunsan (67) of the Philippines sits at eight under alongside the Thai duo of Jakraphan Premsirigorn (69) and Runchanapong Youprayong (69)

The US$200,000 tournament is the season-opener of the ADT, co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf of Malaysia, and many players are shaking the rust from their game after the holiday.

Thailand’s Amarin Kraivixien (68), who held the co-lead after round one, saw his game slip away with a 71 yesterday, but was making a defiant comeback until a double on the last brought him back down to earth.

Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra pictured in action during the third round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club on January 23, 2025. Picture courtesy PKNS Selangor Masters.

He sits in solo sixth place and will be hoping his return to form coninues when play gets underway in the final round.

In seventh place, on six under par, Korea’s Minhyeok Yang (67) rests alongside England’s Sam Broadhurst, who shot the low round of the day with a 63, alongside Thailand’s Poom Pattarapong (69) and Shotaro Ban (70) of the USA.

Broadhurst, who contiunued in Asia after taking part in the Asian Tour Qualifying-School in December, said he was enjoying his time in the region.

“First time in Malaysia and I love it,” he said, “the course is great. Obviously a little bit warmer than I’m used to back home but I’m trying to deal with it as best I can.

“I just couldn’t get anything going in rounds one and two, but today was closer to what I’m used to in terms of how well I hit it,” he said. “I managed to hit fairways, hit greens and take advantage where I could,” he added.

Malaysian amateur Hariz Hezri (66) lies in solo 11th spot on five under, having made a resolute comeback from a disappointing 73 in Round Two.

With round three complete, the final round will begin tomorrow at 7.51am off two tees, with the leading group of Tawit, Pagunsan and Ramadhanputra heading out at 9.30am.

Main picture: Thailand’s Tawit Polthai pictured in action during the third round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club on January 23, 2025. Picture courtesy PKNS Selangor Masters.