Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond will have an outstanding opportunity to claim his first title in three years tomorrow – after he finished in share of the third-round lead at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today.
The 29-year-old, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour and the Order of Merit champion in 2019, carded a battling three-under-par 68 here at Namseoul Country Club.
He shares the lead with Baekjun Kim from Korea, who emerged from a tightly packed leaderboard brimming with talent, after firing a 66. Kim won the opening event of the season on the Korean PGA Tour last month.
The leading duo are eight under for tournament – which is considered to be one of Korea’ s majors and is the fifth stop of the year on the Asian Tour.
A very good afternoon to you and a warm welcome to a rather wet Namsoul country club for day three here at the 44th staging of the Mong Open. What’s going to be happen out here on Saturday? Fairway bunker at the first. That front hole location desperately quick when you get past the pins here at Nam J. Beautiful way to start the day. Three have the cut made and the redraw. First group went out at 10:30 local time. Take off just past 12:30. Taylor Oak nearly holding out for an eagle too and who is proud to call Mau home two-time winner of making open Savian Park giving his friends and family something to cheer about a little chip in for Birdie. See dropping early. Chungun Hang. He’s come close to winning this event before. Nice birdie starting his day on the back nine. That quickly got him to one under for the day. But T-shot of the day so far. China’s Samson Zang. Look at this at the R31 17th. Essu starting his day on the back nine. Wonderful stuff from Samson. There two at the top at six under power. Do Yan Huang and Hong Jun Lee closely followed by Garung Yamcho Jazz Jane Watin and on and the red hot Richard Lee here on day three at the Mong Open. Made a birdie on the previous hole, the par five, a hole where he made an eight on yesterday. Looking forward backto-back birdies. Birdies indeed on the [Applause] top from the green side bunker. Justin Chin just all pars through the first three holes. A good chance to break that streak. Oh, beautifully done. What that start on an Justin Shin. Good opportunity to find a birdie. Get up to five under. Oh yes indeed. Walking that one in. Justin Shin. So Jazz arms taking that unplayable now. Be hitting three. And he’s got a clearish looking path through the foliage in front. Priority number one here is just to make sure he clears that tree or just avoid cutting any of the limbs. Okay, back in position for Jing Watan at the fourth. Lovely. Good start there for Surret. Now Jazz’s fourth. At the fourth. Oh my goodness. [Applause] Jazz. Electrifying stuff. Well done, Jazz. It’s one of those things where you see something like that happen and you start to wonder, this could be my day. This could be my week. Jazz up into a share of the lead in company of two amateurs. It’s done. Nice birdie there for Iron Man. Well read Mr. Kang Chz drop a shot now. current Genesis points leader, the Prommy Open champion of this year, Korean to a big Kim, a birdie look on nine to break out of that nine-way tie for second place and move alongside Sunun and a little twirl around the cup and in it goes for Big Jun Kim onto the 10th Fairway found for Richard Lee. So this is going to be a pin and a green that he can think about being aggressive. [Music] Bruce back on for Yong Jun Lee as he settles in over his pit shot to the ninth. pitching practice this front side. Looks like he’s going to open his account for moving day one touch around the greens throughout his career. Jane Watin on. Okay. Richard Lee six under beautifully hauled there. Tried to get away but it didn’t for Justin Chin. Back up to the par five 14. Third shot of son an a very handy one indeed. Lovely from the teenager. Much like the 11th hole. Got himself in a perfect spot where overall there’s not that much break. Slightly uphill. Oh, and like the 11th hole, they took a little victory lap and drops in. Justin Shin within one of Bigten Kim, which is in fact our leader. Picturesque from the the trouble left. No wonder he was able to find it. Goodness me. [Applause] Oh, he couldn’t possibly could he from the trees left on 14 to this point. Pton Kim for Birdie. Scott Vincent, his playing partner, trying to will that one in. Well, he would have taken five with that second shot in the air. Score card remains clean for your championship leader. It’s a scary looking putt when he looks at the hole. He’s going to see a slight drop away from him just beyond the hole. So he’s just going to try to trickle over the front edge. Trickles it over the front edge. Jazz Jane Watan on to seven under par down into this 16th hole. Plays as a par five for the members, but it’s par four when the Minkyong Open rolls around every May. Start a nice line, but he’s begging that to cut a little. Does that take a friendly hop? You bet it does. Brilliant shot from Scott Vincent getting better by the minute. Wonderful shot for the man from Harare. But a bail came out again here on 16. No, it can’t. Three tied at the top now with that Bowie should get slipped to seven under along with Justin Chin and Jazz. Third shot into the par five for [Applause] Yon. and he will have one. Scott Vincent makes it a quartet at seven under par. First birdie of the day recorded on the 16th hole. That’s three on the bounce. One into the back. The speed off him. Masterfully played by Watan on A quintet of players now share the lead at the Mikyong Open. There were five tied for the lead. There’s now just one and his name is Jazz Jane Watinon. Up to eight under par up into the solo lead at the Ming Open. Bullock dropped three shots in his first five holes. Steady the ship with a birdie at the ninth, but gave that straight back with a bogey at the 11. He’s been on a string of par since and still under path for this championship, but it’s not like he’s got easy holes. Coming up to the clubhouse to try and pinch a couple more birdies. or unless unless Gagenjit Bullah. Okay, of course I retracted everything I just said 30 seconds ago. That’s a 32 guaranteed for the runnerup back in 2018. A decent amount of movement from his right to left. How about it for Big Jun Kim? Brilliant finish there from the South Korean birdies. The 18th hole that Nam Salt puts together a round of 66. This time unfortunately for James and not he has dropped shots since the fifth down to seven under acceleration through the impact area there. Best in Shin. It’s not even a revolution shot. That’s half a roll short from dropping in. Well deserved that after some of the nasty lip outs had today. Relief across the face of Ouang Cho. I made one. Stunning stuff from Jazz. What a response after the bogey at 16. He’s in birdie country on 17. Fabulous shot [Applause] excellent look back into a tie. He’s got it. Jazz Jane Watan moves himself back up to eight under par. Fabulous response to the bogey on 16. This will be for a round of three under par 68. More importantly within one the current leader leaders Pek Kim and Jane Watanon. Brilliant four from Justin Shin. He had to work for it. But that is a bogey free round of golf. A 68 for Yongu Shin. He try remains above ground. Chz for par to Sunday tied at the top. Excellent stuff from Jazz Jane Watton and on two putts. Pars the last. He will be in the final group again Sunday afternoon. Back to back 68s for Jazz. Well, regardless of who emerges triumphant at the end of play Sunday, they would have certainly had to earn it. Will it be Vic Jin Kim despite his adventures? Will it be Jazz Jane Watton and will it be one of the others on the first page of the leaderboard? Do join us Sunday afternoon to find out. Until then, that’s all the time we have for today. Bye-bye from Namso and we’ll see you tomorrow on the Asian tour.
