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Day 2
Day 1

October 3rd 2009, Taipei: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha returned with a one-over-par 73 for a three-day total of nine-under-par 207 to take the third round lead at the US$500,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters as the threat of Typhoon Parma heading towards Taipei looms large on Saturday.

Playing under gusty conditions at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, the 38-year-old Thai continues to hold a slender one shot lead over four-time Asian Tour winner, Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei.

Defending champion Lu Wen-teh, also of Chinese Taipei added a 68 to his two day scores of 71 and 71 to take third place while compatriot Lin Keng-chi posted a 69 to take fourth place on 212.

Thailand’s Sattaya Supupramai is two shots behind in fifth place after returning with a 69 for a three-day total of 214.

Overnight leader Udorn looked certain to head into the final round with a four-shot cushion over Lin until a disastrous triple bogey on the closing 18th saw his lead reduced to one.

The Thai signaled his intention of winning his maiden title on the Asian Tour by starting strongly with birdies on the seventh, 11th and 13th holes.

Apart from dropping his only shot for bogey on the par-three eighth, Udorn was set to cruise home safely until calamity struck on the 18th.

“My tee shot on the 18th went out of bounds off the right and I had to tee off again. That really set me back. I thought I had read the wind directions correctly but I was wrong,” said Udorn.

“It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen tomorrow so I’m just going to enjoy my lead today,” added the Thai.

Meanwhile home favourite Lin who began the day in tied-third moved up to second place after 13 holes and continued to hold on to that position right till end of his play.

Lin got off unconvincingly with bogeys in his opening three holes. The Chinese Taipei player however regained his composure with birdies on the sixth and seventh holes before another dropped shot on the eighth set him back by a shot.

He stormed home impressively with another four birdies and a bogey in his inward-nine to eventually sign for a 71.

“I did not start off well with three opening bogeys but luckily I managed to birdie the sixth and seventh. That helped to calm the nerves and I was glad I had a good back-nine,” said Lin.

With the storm expected to affect Taipei over the weekend and early next week, Lu is hoping that the popular Asian Tour event will not be disrupted and shorten.

“It’ll be ideal if we can play all 72 holes to determine the winner. This is a very popular event not only for the players but also for all the fans gathered here and we all want a good finish,” said Lu, a five-time Asian Tour winner.