Tamsui, Chinese Taipei, September 30: Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines charged into a one-shot lead after shooting a two-under-par 70 in the third round of the US$800,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.
Pagunsan, the first Filipino to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2011, totalled eight-under-par 208 to hold a narrow edge over Malaysia’s Gavin Green at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Green stayed in the hunt for his first Asian Tour title after shooting a 71 and stay within striking distance of his playing partner Pagunsan. Keith Horne of South Africa was a further two shots back following a 72.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe posted a superb 66, the lowest round today, in windy conditions to tie in fourth place alongside Thailand’s Danthai Boonma and Malaysia’s Ben Leong, who both returned on matching 71s.
Pagunsan birdied the opening hole before adding two birdies against one bogey on his homeward nine to put himself in prime position of ending a 10-year title drought.
Green, who co-led with Pagusan after two rounds, birdied three out of four par fives but slipped back when an errand tee shot on the par-four 14th hole resulted in a double bogey.
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- Pagunsan birdied his opening hole from five feet which gave him the momentum for the rest of the round. He dropped one shot on the 10th hole but took the outright lead thanks to birdies on 13 and 15.
- He is enjoying a good season so far highlighted by a runner-up result in Singapore earlier this year. He also has two other top-five results.
- Pagunsan said he will not take his lead for granted at the challenging Taiwan GCC.
- He is currently ranked 17th on the Order of Merit. A good result or a victory this week will squeeze him into the lucrative CIMB Classic where the leading 10 players on the Order of Merit as of October 9 will qualify.
- As an amateur, Pagunsan won two gold medals in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games staged in Manila.
- Green birdied three out of four par fives. The double bogey on the 14th hole was his highest score this week.
- Green hopes to do well on Sunday to honour his late grandfather who passed away from a heart attack a few hours after he finished second in Korea two weeks ago.
- With three runner-up results this year, the young Malaysian hopes to cross the finishing line and take over the Order of Merit lead from Scott Hend of Australia.
- Horne is also searching for a first win on the Asian Tour. He bogeyed the opening hole but made up with a birdie on the last hole from close range.
Player interviews:
 Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) – Third Round 70 (-2), Total 207 (-9)
 I’m very happy because I hit the ball so good. I was very focussed on my game so didn’t care about the windy conditions. Yes, the birdie on the first hole was the key to my solid round. It was very close.
I’m feeling confident and I’m looking forward to playing well. It is a ball game so anything can happen tomorrow. You know this course is difficult. You can lead by five shots and it still won’t be safe. So you can’t take anything for granted.
 Gavin Green (Mas) – Third Round 71 (-1), Total 208 (-8)
 It was quite solid overall from tee to green. I hit it good and gave myself a lot of looks but missed some putts. I can’t complain because I also made a few good saves. I just need to hope the putts drop.
(On the double bogey on the 14th hole) I hit a good drive, the wind switched and my ball landed way left. I chipped out but couldn’t get up-and-down. It was a bad break but I almost eagled the next hole so that was a good recovery.
The wind was very swirly today. I knew it would be a hard day and everybody was struggling. I knew if I stayed out of trouble, the birdies will eventually drop.
Anybody can win tomorrow. I’m going to shoot for an under-par round and give myself birdie looks. If I can keep the ball in the fairways and capitalise on the par fives, I should be okay. I can’t control what other people do.
Keith Horne (Rsa) – Third Round 72 (E), Total 210 (-6)
 I had a very frustrating day. I didn’t play very well but I kept my ball in play. I couldn’t get it going but I managed to hang in there. I had four birdie chances which were realistic but I only holed the one on the last hole.
I’m a bit disappointed not to take advantage of the downwind par fives. I hit bad tee shots on every one of those holes and those are the holes you need to take advantage of in these tough conditions.
If I play with a lot more freedom then I have a good chance on Sunday. I just need to release the handbrakes and it should be a bit better.
Ben Leong (Mas) – Third Round 71 (-1), Total 211 (-5)
 It was tougher today. The wind was swirling even worst. I hung in there and played really well. My score should be lower but that’s golf. I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m going to keep working on my game and stay positive.
I’m happy to play in the weekend because it is a tough golf course. I’m happy being out here. When you have no expectations, that’s where you play well. Expectations can kill you. Just go out there like you are practising with your friends and have fun. It is always easier said than done. You just need a good attitude no matter the situation.
 Danthai Boonma (Tha) – Third Round 71 (-1), Total 211 (-5)
I hit it good on the first nine but it was very windy. On my first nine I struggled with my putting. I missed a lot of short putts.I birdied the 11th hole from the seventh hole and I got more confidence from there.
My performance on the back nine has given me confidence with my putter. I won’t think about the win yet. I just need to keep to my plan and be myself.
 Scores after round 3 of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters 2017 being played at the par 72, 6923 Yards Tamsui Course course (am – denotes amateur):
207 – Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 68-69-70.
208 – Gavin GREEN (MAS) 67-70-71.
210 – Keith HORNE (RSA) 70-68-72.
211 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-76-66, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 68-72-71, Ben LEONG (MAS) 71-69-71.
212 – Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 71-68-73.
214 – Arjun ATWAL (IND) 73-71-70, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 70-71-73.
215 – Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 73-73-69, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 73-71-71, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 68-72-75.
216 – LU Chien-soon (TPE) 75-72-69, Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 70-75-71, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 74-69-73, LU Wen-teh (TPE) 71-72-73, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-72-73, HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE) 72-71-73, Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) 74-68-74, Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 65-73-78.
