Nakhon Ratchasima: Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond bounced back from a slow start to shoot a five-under-par 66 to move ahead of the field in the penultimate round of the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship yesterday.
The two-time Asian Tour winner birdied four of his closing seven holes to take a one-shot lead into the final round with a three-day total of 20-under-par 193 at the four-million-baht event.
England's Steve Lewton carded a 68 to share second place on 194 with home talent Itthipat Buranatanyarat, who shot a 64 at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club in the season-opening event of the Asian Development Tour and the All Thailand Golf Tour.
The 23-year-old Jazz made an eagle on hole five but dropped his first shot of the tournament on hole 11 after missing the green when his ball landed in the greenside bunker.
"I think everyone in the group was struggling in the beginning. I didn't get the momentum right and finally everyone started playing better towards the end," Jazz said.
Jazz lost in a play-off in 2016 and missed out yet again the year after with a bogey on his last hole to settle for tied-third. With his game in shape, he remains optimistic but refuses to get ahead of himself.
"I don't have much pressure going into the final round. It's good that my game is in good shape. I'm not thinking about winning and I am just taking this as a sign that I am back and playing good golf again," said Jazz.
Countryman Itthipat, who carded the fourth ace of his career in the second round, also made a late charge with four birdies and one eagle on his back nine.
"I didn't start too well. I was missing a lot of putts and I three-putted hole five. But hole eight turned things around for me. I almost hit it on the green from the tee box and tapped in for birdie," said the 25-year-old.
Lewton, who held a one-shot lead going into the third round, traded four birdies against one bogey after struggling with a cold putter.
"It was a pretty frustrating day. I hit it very good and just didn't make enough putts. I played pretty steady all day. All my birdies were inside six feet but I just couldn't hole anything to get any momentum going," said the one-time Asian Tour winner.
