KJ Choi chipped in on the ninth green to open up a slender one-shot lead midway through the final round of a tightly poised Maybank Malaysian Open.
The veteran South Korean picked up three shots over his opening nine holes at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club capped by a deft chip and run from the edge of the ninth green to top the congested leaderboard at 13 under par.
Teenage compatriot Noh Seung-yul agonisingly saw a long birdie putt at the ninth stop on the lip of the cup to sit second alongside joint overnight leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat heading the chasing pack.
Noh, 18, posted two gains over his opening nine holes, while burly Thai Kiradech, who is looking to convert a third-round lead into a maiden victory at the third attempt, missed a shot par putt at the par-three eighth after back-to-back early birdies had pushed the 20 year old one clear.
Dane Soren Hansen, who made his 22nd consecutive cut this week, posted a solitary birdie on his front nine of the West course to improve to 11 under par with Danny Willett and Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee a further shot off the pace.
Joint overnight leader Rhys Davies started well with a fourth birdie of the week at the par-five third to pull one clear of a group of seven but the Challenge Tour graduate from Wales shipped back-to-back bogeys before reaching the turn in two over with a third dropped shot to sit at nine under alongside Johan Edfors.
