SHIGA, September 24, 2011 (AFP) - Japan's Daisuke Maruyama fired a three-under-par 68 to stand on the brink of winning his second Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open title on Saturday.
Maruyama, who won the title in 2009, posted a three-day total of eight-under-par 205 to take a one-shot lead over S.K. Ho of South Korea who struggled with a 73 for a share of second place alongside Japan's Michio Matsumura on 206.
South African Jbe Kruger carded a 72 for fourth place while Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan signed for a 70 to lie one back in fifth place at the 150,000,000 yen ($1.7 million) event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Maruyama, who started the day in equal fourth, dropped his first shot on his opening par-four first.
He quickly responded with birdies on the second and fifth before another bogey on the seventh hole set him back to even-par for his outward-nine.
The 40-year-old then charged back into contention with birdies on 10, 13 and 16 after the turn.
"I was trying to find my rhythm in the front-nine and thought that I could reach the turn in under-par as I wanted to keep the pressure on the leaders then," said Maruyama.
"But my round really came to life in my back-nine where I was really feeling confident. I'm not going to think so much about my lead tomorrow. Instead I'm going to focus on what I've done today and hopefully I'll win," added the Japanese.
Overnight leader Ho was disappointed that he could not extend his lead after marking his card with four bogeys against two birdies.
"I just couldn't find my form today. I made several bad drives and they were very costly. Hopefully I can play better tomorrow," said Ho.
Thailand's Prom Meesawat, who shot a 70 to be among the five players bunched in equal sixth, believes that he can overcome his four-shot deficit and make a charge for his second Asian Tour title.
"It's not over. I've been talking to my coach and the main thing tomorrow is to stick with my game plan and stay close to the leaders," said Prom.
Prom endured a topsy-turvy start to his outward-nine with three bogeys against one birdie after the opening six holes.
He managed to turn his game around at the eighth hole where he saved par and then responded with birdies on holes 9, 10, 12, 16 before dropping another shot on the 17th.
Leading scores after the third round of the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Panasonic on Saturday:
205 - Daisuke Maruyama (JPN) 67-70-68
206 - Michio Matsumura (JPN) 68-71-67, S.K. Ho (KOR) 67-66-73
207 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 64-71-72.
208 - Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 69-69-70.
209 - Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) 74-69-66, Kenichi Kuboya (JPN) 67-74-68, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 69-72-68, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 71-68-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-71-70
210 - Anthony Kang (USA) 75-68-67, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 69-73-68
211 - Yoshinori Fujimoto (am, JPN) 69-72-70, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-69-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-74-66, Toshinori Muto (JPN) 68-71-72, Kim Do-Hoon 752 (KOR) 69-69-73, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 67-69-75
Selected scores
212 - Danny Chia (MAS) 69-72-71, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-68-71
213 - Siddikur (BAN) 73-70-70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 69-71-73