MANILA, May 17, 2014 (AFP) - Kim nailed three birdies after his stumble at the tricky par-three eighth hole at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club to put himself on pole position to win his first Asian Tour title.
"To be honest, I'm very surprised to be in the lead! I didn't think that five-under would be leading the tournament," Kim said.
"I'm feeling a bit nervous and excited. Last year I had the lead going into the final round in a Chinese Taipei event," the 24-year-old said later, referring to the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship on the Asian Tour in Taipei, where he had been in a similar position but was denied victory by Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand.
"I would like to get some redemption there and win a tournament this week," Kim said.
Kim was one-under for the day when his wayward tee shot on the eighth hole landed 36.6 metres (40 yards) from the elevated green.
He next hit into a tree branch, then found himself in more trouble when his third and fourth shots landed inside the greenside sand trap.
He finally two-putted for seven, before hitting a bogey on the 10th hole. "It felt like I was playing mini golf on the eighth hole," he said later.
Overnight leader Marcus Both of Australia shot a disappointing 76 and found himself in a three-way tie for second place with South Korea's Wang Jeung-hun and Filipino Jay Bayron.
Leading scores:
211 - Chan Kim (USA) 66-72-73
212 - Jay Bayron (PHI) 71-72-69, Wang Jeung-hun (KOR) 72-68-72, Marcus Both (AUS) 70-66-76
214 - Vongvanij Arnond (THA) 74-72-68, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 74-71-69, Nathan Holman (AUS) 71-71-72