A brilliant display of power hitting helped Scott Hend grab a one shot lead after three rounds of the True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain began.
The Australian, who won his first European Tour title in Hong Kong last year, came home in just 32 shots for a 66 which edged him ahead of Miguel Angel Jiménez and Thongchai Jaidee.
Hend, who combined accuracy with great distance off the tee all day, birdied the long second and almost pitched in at the seventh in an outward 34.
But it was on the back nine that the 42 year old found top gear, birdieing the tenth from six feet before almost registering an albatross at the 13th. Having bombed a huge drive down the fairway, Hend fired his iron onto the front of the green and the ball narrowly passed the left edge to leave a three footer for eagle which was duly converted.
Hend then chipped in for another gain at the 15th and almost drove the 17th for a simple birdie, but dropped a shot at the last after three-putting for a 15 under total.
“It was a good round and puts me in a good position,” said Hend. “I played very solidly and putted quite well. I only made one mistake so it was pretty good.
“This is where you want to be, in the last group on a Sunday. I’ll be playing with Thongchai again and Miguel so it’ll be a good little test tomorrow.
“I’m very lucky and privileged to be playing golf for a living and being in contention on Sundays is what we’re all trying to do.”
Of his exploits on the 13th, the former rookie of the year on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour added: “It was a nice long drive and I hit a nice little five iron in there and got a good bounce on the fringe of the green. I’m not sure how close it was to going in, but it was nice to walk up there and see it very close. I did wonder if it had gone in when I heard the cheers – I couldn’t see the hole from where I was.”
The 51 year old Spaniard Jiménez, looking to break his own record as The European Tour’s oldest winner, had shrugged off a heavy cold to card rounds of 67 and 66 to establish a one shot halfway lead at Black Mountain Golf Club but had to scrap hard for a three under par 69 today.
Already a winner on the Champions Tour this year, Jiménez birdied the long second but was caught by Hend, Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat when he ran up seven consecutive pars.
A tap-in birdie at the tenth took him ahead once more, but he was overhauled by Hend and a five foot gain at the 17th only served to reduce the deficit and he missed a chance from similar range on the last to miss out on a share of top spot.
“I’m playing well and hitting it well,” said Jiménez. “I missed a few putts but I’m creating lots of chances.
“This is a beautiful place and it’s beautiful weather – it’s a good scenario. It could have been five or six under today but that’s the game and you have to take it.”
Jaidee also gained a shot at the second and holed from 30 feet at the fourth.
The home favourite and tournament ambassador stuck his approach close at the tenth, made a six footer at the 15th and birdied the last to match Jiménez in going bogey-free.
And like Jiménez, the six-time European Tour winner was targeting an improvement with the putter in the final round.
“I need to practise my putting - putting will be the key to win this tournament,” said Jaidee.
“I will just stick with my game. I think I will have a chance to go low if I can putt better.”
Another local hope, Aphibarnrat, failed to take advantage of the back nine and sits fourth on 12 under.
