American Corey Harris enjoyed a glorious finish in his third round of three-under-par 69 as he tightened his grip in the Asian Tour Qualifying School Finals in Johor Bahru on Friday.
The 30-year-old American birdied the 17th and eagled the par five finishing hole with a 40 foot putt at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club's Cempaka Course to lead by three strokes with his 15-under-par 201 total entering Saturday's final round.
Australian David Brandson, looking to renew old ties with Asia after spending two seasons here 10 years ago, shot a 68 to lie in second place while Dubai-based Scotsman Ross Bain is a further stroke behind on 205.
The battle for a top-40 finish, which is the cut off mark for an Asian Tour card for the 2005 season, intensified with the likes of Filipino Felix Casas and India's Shiv Kapur still in the thick of battle for their cards.
Kapur, the 2002 Asian Games gold medallist, returned a 72 for tied 27th position, just one stroke ahead of the current cut-off mark while Casas, returning after a two-year break following a hand injury, is in a slightly better position in tied 20th place.
As the pressure started to take its toll with scores soaring on a searing day, a unique player-caddie relationship is providing one of the stories this week. Korean American Ron Won, who battled to a 72 for tied eighth position on 209, has had his mother, Yoon, on caddying duties since Stage One and the unlikely combination looks set to become the first mother-and-son combination to make the grade at Qualifying School.
"It was slow but patient day," said Harris, who has led the Final Stage from the opening round. "Everything happened at the end and I finished it with a long putt at the last. It's nice to still lead after three days and I'll aim to do the same tomorrow."
Casas, once touted as the man likely to replace Frankie Minoza as the next Philippine golfing star, is looking to complete his comeback from a two-year hiatus after breaking a bone in his right hand. A battling 72 left him with a 211 total and in good position to make a comeback onto the Asian Tour.
"The greens were hard to putt on today but I am happy with the way I am swinging the club. I'll need to shoot a five under round tomorrow to earn my tour card. It's been a long two years since I played regularly in Asia and it has been frustrating. But I haven't lost my touch or fitness as I've been working out in the gym and just swinging the club for hours back home. I won a tournament in my first event back from injury last year but I want to start playing again here in Asia," said Casas.
Kapur didn't have an enjoyable day on the greens, missing makeable birdie putts all day to fall into a precarious position.
"Tomorrow could be one of the most important rounds of my career," said the 22-year-old Indian. "I need a low round tomorrow and it's within me to do so. I'll give it my best."
Won, who attended Stanford College in California before turning pro last year, celebrated his 24th birthday today and could well make it a memorable one by earning his Asian Tour card with his mother on the bag. "It's nice to have mum around as she's always positive on the course. She's getting a bit tired after doing this for two weeks and I think I'll give her a break tomorrow," said Won, who received a glare from his mother after making the comment.
"She was on the bag when I got my conditional card at the Canadian Qualifying School last year and we've been successful. It'll be great to get my card as I want to play the Korean events and around Asia as my parents' roots are from here," he added.
Shaifubari Muda was the best placed Malaysian in tied 20th position on 211 after carding a 233 while Rashid Ismail and M. Sasidaran are right on the bubble to earn an Asian Tour card in tied 37th place after rounds of 70 and 74 respectively.
Leading third round scores
201: Corey Harris (USA) 64-68-69
204: David Bransdon (Aus) 66-70-68
205: Ross Bain (Sco) 69-64-72
207: Shannon Jones (Aus) 70-67-70, JIN Yong-Gab (Kor) 68-68-71, Matthew CORT (Eng) 68-68-71
208: Kurt Barnes (Aus) 69-66-73
209: Pat Giles (Aus) 73-66-70, Paul Marantz (Aus) 68-70-71, Kao Bo-Song (Tpe) 69-69-71, Gary Simpson (Aus) 72-68-69, Ron Won (USA) 70-67-72, Jochen Lupprian (Ger) 68-67-74.
