It was a tough day for the Indians as both SSP Chowrasia and Anirban Lahiri slipped in the third round of the US 300,000 ICTSI Philippine Open but Abhijit Chadha made some progress today.
Chowrasia, lying sixth after second round, once again slipped on the weekend with a round that had four bogeys and no birdies in his 76, while Lahiri had two double bogeys, two bogeys and five birdies in an eventful round of 76. Chowrasia was down to tied 25th and Lahiri was tied 37th.
Chadha had four birdies against three bogeys for his 71 that saw him rise to tied 25th with Chowrasia.
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Korean-American Chan Kim grabbed the third round lead despite shooting a quadruple bogey on the challenging par-three eighth hole.
Kim, winner of the 2013 Asian Tour Qualifying School, surprised even himself when he returned from the penultimate round on five-under-par 211 to lead by one shot at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Overnight leader Marcus Both of Australia shot a disappointing 76 to share second place with Filipino Jay Bayron (69), the 2012 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner and Wang Jeung-hun (72) of Korea.
Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna, Thailand's Arnond Vongvanij, a winner on the Asian Tour and Tour rookie Nathan Holman of Australia were a further two shots back in tied fifth on 214.
Kim was one-under for the day before heading into the eighth hole where his wayward tee shot landed 40 yards away from the elevated green. After hitting his second shot into a tree branch, Kim found himself in more trouble when his third and fourth shots landed inside the greenside sand trap.
He two-putted for seven and walked away with another bogey on 10. Despite the setbacks, Kim showed true grit to birdie 12, 13 and 15 to put himself in prime position to win his first Asian Tour title.
Wang, winner of the 2014 Mission Hills Haikou Open on the PGA Tour China, made three birdies on his front nine but stumbled on the back when he bogeyed 12 and three putted for double bogey on the 18th hole.
