MANILA, 22 Nov 2014 (AFP) - The 47-year-old winner of the 2004 Indian Open, 2006 Singapore Masters and the 2012 Philippine Open sank seven birdies against a single bogey for a six-under third-round score of 66.
"I got off to a great start which kind of gave me a good cushion. I kept myself in my own zone. I knew I had to stay calm to maintain my lead," he said.
Mardan has a 17-under total of 199 after three rounds, and a four-shot lead over Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
"It was less windy compared to the first two rounds. I guess that explains the low scores today," said Frenchman Lionel Weber, who jumped into third place, five shots behind Mardan, with a sizzling 64 Saturday.
Thailand's Prom Meesawat shot a course-record nine-under-par 63 with seven birdies and a closing eagle, but remained nine shots adrift of Mardan.
Leading scores after the third round at the par-72 Manila Southwoods course:
199 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 65-68-66
203 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 66-69-68
204 - Lionel Weber (FRA) 70-70-64
206 - Berry Henson (USA) 74-68-64; Nicholas Fung (MAS) 69-69-68
207 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 70-73-64; Paul Peterson (USA) 68-70-69; Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 67-71-69
208 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 73-72-63; Javi Colomo (ESP) 69-69-70; Daisuke Kataoka (JPN) 65-73-70; Danny Chia (MAS) 66-71-71