Fung squeaks into pole at Queen's Cup

BANGKOK: Malaysia's Nicholas Fung squeaked into pole on the third round of the Queen's Cup in Thailand on Saturday but a crowded leaderboard leaves everything to play for on the final day.
The 27-year-old struck two birdies on his final three holes to hit a three-under-par 68 and nip one shot ahead of former Asian Tour number ones Thaworn Wiratchant and Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines.
Fung has been among the more consistent at the often blustery Santiburi Samui Country Club on the southern Thai beach island of Koh Samui, with 66-68-68 in the first three rounds of the US$500,000 (RM2.14 million) tournament.
But he will have to fight hard to keep veteran local Thaworn, the Asian Tour player with the most career wins, and Pagunsan, a former number one in 2011, off his back.
Thaworn, 50, struck a magnificent 63 on the second day at the par-71 course on Friday but couldn't bring the same magic on Saturday.
Fung said he was aiming to keep consistent on the final day and not focus too much on the cup.
"I just want to shoot another 68 tomorrow. If I think of winning, there will be a lot of pressure," he said according to a match report put out by the organisers.
"Maybe someone will shoot six or seven under tomorrow and if he does, he deserves to win it. If I shoot three under it is good enough for me on this course."
One stroke behind Thaworn and Pagunsan are four more players in with a good shot of taking the trophy on the final day Sunday: Thailand's rising star Jazz Janewattananond, Malaysia's Danny Chia, Taiwan's Hung Chien-yao and Filipino Angelo Que.
Order of Merit number two S. S. P. Chawrasia is a distant five shots off the lead while number one and Queen's Cup title defender Scott Hend is languishing a full 10 shots behind.
Leading scores after the third round of the US$500,000 Asian Tour Queen's Cup at the par-71 Santiburi Samui Country Club in Thailand:
202 - Nicholas Fung (MAS) 66-68-68
203 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 68-67-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-63-70
204 - Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 67-72-65, Danny Chia (MAS) 69-68-67, Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 66-71-67, Angelo Que (PHI) 65-70-69
205 - Rashid Khan (IND) 65-70-70
206 - Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 69-67-70, Pasavee Lertvilai (THA) 69-66-71, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 65-70-71
— AFP