Australian golfer Min Woo Lee led the US$1-million SJM Macao Open for the third successive day after firing a six-under-par 65 today for a staggering tournament total of 22-under, and a narrow two-shot lead over Poom Saksansin from Thailand.
Poom fired an equally impressive 64 here at the Macao Golf and Country Club in Coloane, with South Korea's Eom Jaewoong two back following a 65, thanks to a brilliant eagle on 18.
New Zealand's Ben Campbell (68) and Kim Meenwhee (69) from South Korea are four strokes further adrift.
Playing aggressively and with supreme confidence, 25-year-old Lee made an eagle, five birdies and one bogey to put himself in position to win for the first time in two years and claim his maiden Asian Tour title.
He was pushed all the way by playing partner Poom, who in typical Poom fashion drew level with him on the back nine and refused to capitulate.
The diminutive 30-year-old Poom birdied four in a row from the seventh to catch his Australian opponent before handing the lead back when he dropped a shot on 12.
Lee went two ahead after a superb eagle on the par-five 13th, where he hit his second to 10 feet and holed out, before a birdie on 15 put him three in front. However, Poom rallied and birdied the last two holes, while Lee also made birdie on 18.
The tournament ends tomorrow.
The tournament is sponsored by integrated resort operator SJM, which owns 13 of Macau's 30 casinos.
– Xinhua, MPD
