Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai is one round away from a successful defence of his Taiwan Glass Taifong Open after he took a share of the third-round lead today with his young compatriot Runchanapong Youprayong.
Suteepat, who also won the Yeangder TPC here in Chinese-Taipei in September, fired a four-under-par 68 at Taifong Golf Club, while Runchanapong carded a 66.
They lead the US$400,000 event on 18-under by four from overnight leader Jack Thompson from Australia, who fell back with a 73, Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, who came in with a 65, and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, who returned a 68, plus Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, after a 70.
Suteepat has made no secret about his love of Chinese-Taipei and he showed that again today when after a slow start he moved through the field. He bogeyed the first but bounced back with five birdies later on.
Said the 31-year-old: “I three putted the first but holed a 15 footer for birdie on eight which was the turning point for me. I missed from six feet on the last to match my winning score of 19 under last year, but never mind.
“I have never defended a title before. It’s big. I just need to make sure I create a lot of chances tomorrow.”
Runchanapong, who is 23 years old and in just his second year as a professional, birdied the last three holes to set up the biggest Sunday of his fledgling career.
“I was only two under on the front nine but gave myself a lot of chances,” said Runchanapong, who was coached in his junior days by this week’s Tournament Director Krirkchai Boonprasert.
“Made a big birdie putt on 10 from 25 feet and then had that great finish. I am just going to play the course tomorrow not the other players. It’s been great this week, the greens really suit me so that’s why I have been holing putts.
“Just need to play the same tomorrow as I have for the last three rounds.”
Boonma is looking to make it win number three on the Asian Tour, his most recent was the Bangladesh Open in 2022.
He said: “No complaints, bogey free today. Made birdie on number five, which is one of the toughest, that relaxed me and helped me to play easier. Felt I was more focused today, concentrating better.”
Chinese-Taipei’s Max Lee Chieh-po, currently in third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to his victory in the International series Thailand, shot a 67 and is six behind the leaders.
Scores after round 3 of the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open being played Taifong Golf Club, par-72, 7,302-yard course (am – denotes amateur):
198 – Runchanapong Youprayong (THA) 64-68-66, Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA) 67-63-68.
202 – Danthai Boonma (THA) 65-72-65, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (THA) 67-67-68, Hung Chien-yao (TWN) 68-64-70, Jack Thompson (AUS) 64-65-73.
204 – Justin Quiban (PHI) 67-72-65, Lee Chieh-po (TWN) 68-69-67.
206 – Huang Yi-tseng (TWN) 67-72-67, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 69-68-69, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (IND) 68-69-69, Liu Yung-hua (TWN) 69-66-71.
207 – He Chin-hung (TWN) 68-72-67, Chen Guxin (CHN) 72-69-66, Tanapat Pichaikool (THA) 70-67-70, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA) 67-69-71, Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN) 67-69-71.
208 – Minhyeok Yang (KOR) 71-67-70, Kao Teng (TWN) 69-69-70, Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 69-68-71, Berry Henson (USA) 68-68-72, Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS) 67-67-74.
209 – Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 70-68-71, Yeh Chia-yin (TWN) 69-69-71, Wang Wei-hsuan (TWN) 72-65-72, Hsieh Chi-hsien (TWN) 70-67-72, Jonathan Wijono (INA) 74-68-67.
210 – K.P. Lin (TWN) 68-72-70, Justin Warren (AUS) 70-69-71, Kazuki Higa (JPN) 70-71-69, Lu Wei-chih (TWN) 67-74-69, Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 72-70-68, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 71-71-68, Chen Yi-tong (TWN) 70-67-73, Galven Green (MAS) 68-68-74.
211 – Poom Saksansin (THA) 69-70-72, Ahmad Baig (PAK) 72-69-70, Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 72-70-69, Su Ching-hung (TWN) 73-70-68, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA) 73-70-68.
212 – Liu Yanwei (CHN) 73-66-73, Shen Wei-cheng (TWN) 71-67-74, Karandeep Kochhar (IND) 71-71-70, Charngtai Sudsom (THA) 72-70-70, Ho Yu-cheng (TWN) 70-72-70, Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 69-74-69.
213 – Settee Prakongvech (THA) 69-70-74, Yeongsu Kim (KOR) 71-70-72, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 68-70-75, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-68-75, Liu Yen-hung (TWN) 74-68-71, Matt Killen (ENG) 70-72-71, Lai Chia-i (TWN) 70-72-71, Manav Shah (USA) 67-75-71, Lion Park (KOR) 70-73-70.
214 – James Leow (SGP) 73-68-73, Hsieh Tung-hung (TWN) 72-65-77, Khalin Joshi (IND) 70-72-72, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-71-71.
215 – Hung Chao-hsin (TWN) 68-73-74, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 72-69-74, Natipong Srithong (THA) 69-72-74.
216 – Tsai Tsung-yu (TWN) 68-74-74, Sean Ramos (PHI) 74-69-73.
217 – Jared Du Toit (CAN) 66-75-76, Chen Wei-sheng (TWN) 75-68-74.
218 – Aaron Wilkin (AUS) 71-71-76, Zach Murray (AUS) 69-73-76, Carlos Pigem (ESP) 73-70-75.
