[ad_1]
Yannik Paul and Nicolai Hojgaard share second place and Joost Luiten holds fourth place; Thorbjorn Olesen leads at 18 in and is chasing his seventh DP World Tour title; watch the final round live on Saturday from 5am on Sky Sports Golf
Last updated: 18/02/23 11:12
Thorbjorn Olesen is looking for his seventh DP World Tour victory
Thorbjorn Olesen took a two-shot lead into the final round of the DP World Tour Thailand Classic, with Nicolai Hojgaard part of the chasing pack.
Olesen followed up back-to-back 67s over the first two days with a superb bogey-free 64 on Saturday at Amata Spring Country Club, with the six-time DP World Tour winner posting eight birdies to move to 18 under.
The Dane came to the weekend two strokes back but birdied three of the opening six holes and made four consecutive birdies from the ninth hole, then took advantage of the par-five 15th and closed out the third round flawlessly.
“I thought overall it was a pretty good round,” Olesen said. “I didn’t get many obstacles and some par fours and par fives I hit close and could two-putt for birdie. I made it quite easy for me, which is nice. It’s not always like that.”
Compatriot Hojgaard matched Olesen’s 64 to share second place with Germany’s Yannik Paul, who made five birdies on nine-under 31 and was also 16 under, with Dutchman Joost Luiten three shots back in fourth.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
See perhaps the strangest hole in golf where players have to take a boat to play the par-three 17th at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand
Hojgaard birdied four of the opening six holes and canceled out a bogey on the par-three eighth with a superb eagle on the par-five 11th, before adding birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th to ensure he would play in the final group on Sunday.
“I haven’t played well for a long time and this year I think I have improved my consistency in the game,” Hojgaard said. “I’m happy where I am now and the way it’s trending. Adding consistency always helps and that’s been the difference this year. Obviously you like to fight to win and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Nicolai Hojgaard has made top-15 finishes in three of the last four worlds
England’s Dale Whitnell posted a bogey-free 67 to move into joint fifth with Jeunghun Wang and Kazuki Higa, while overnight leader Rafa Cabrera Bello fell five strokes back to eighth after mixing two birdies with plenty of bogeys at level par. 72.
Players and staff at the Thailand Classic held a minute’s silence in the third round for former European Tour chief umpire John Paramor, one of golf’s best-known rules officials, who has died aged 67.
Who will win the Thailand Classic? Watch the final round live on Sunday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.
[ad_2]
Source link