Lee Sung of South Korea set a course record with a nine-under-par 62 in the third round for a commanding seven-stroke lead at the Bangkok Airways Open yesterday.

Lee fired an impressive nine birdies for a three-day total of 16-under-par 197 at the Santiburi Samui Country Club. Lee broke the previous course record of 64 set by Thailand's Chapchai Nirat on Friday.

The 27-year-old Lee, who was born deaf, is poised to snatch his first Asian Tour title since turning pro in 2000.

"I just hit one stroke at a time and didn't think about anything. I will go into the final day not thinking about the victory,'' said the South Korean.

He wandered from hole to hole, picking up birdie after birdie until on the 18th, where his tee shot landed in the rough, 175 feet off the pin. But he incredibly pitched from the left rough to two feet before making a storming finish with a birdie putt.

"It was my highlight of the day,'' said Lee, who has his brother Lee Sung-joo as a caddy for the first time this week.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat had a 67, seven shots off the pace. His double three-straight birdies - from the ninth to 11th holes and again from the 13th to the 15th - put him in second position with a total of nine-under 204.

"I had a bad start, but came back on the back nine,'' said the Singaporean, who dropped shots on the second and fourth holes. However, he did not write off his chances of staging a comeback on the final day.

"Anything can happen on this course. You never know. I have to focus on my game and not worry about the others,'' said Mardan, a runner-up in Wales last week.

Local contender Prayad Marksaeng moved into joint third alongside Prom Meesawat after finishing with a 64. Prayad enjoyed a bogey-free round, with birdies on the second, fourth, seventh, ninth, 10th, 16th and 17th, and a total of eight-under 205.

"I felt good from the fourth hole onwards. I hit the irons well and made great putts. I was a bit aggressive, trying to catch up with the leader,'' said Prayad, winner of five Asian Tour titles.

Prom dropped shots on the ninth and 12th, but picked up seven birdies to improve for a 66. "I'm putting well this week, but today I missed a couple of holes. I will just stick to my game plan tomorrow by hitting as many fairways as possible."

Chawalit Plaphol, who came back from six strokes behind to claim last year's title, carded a 66 for joint fifth, along with Australian Adam Blyth (69). He said all the chasing players must narrow the gap today to exert pressure on the leader.

"He will be playing comfortably with a huge lead. We must make a lot of birdies and pressure him,'' Chawalit, who is nine shots behind the leader.

Sharing seventh position are Thaworn Wiratchant and Japan's Taichiro Kiyota, after they signed off with 69 and 68 respectively for aggregate six-unders.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

KOH SAMUI