Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng produced a stunning seven-under-par third round of 65 to leap up to second place at the TCL Classic in Sanya, but still trails leader Chapchai Nirat by five shots.
Nirat, who set the course record with an opening round 61, leads the field on 17 under, with his compatriot on 12-under after his fine effort on Saturday.
Marksaeng, beginning the day at five under, reached the turn in 33 before reeling off of three consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine before coming home in 32.
Nick Dougherty, James Heath, and Lee Westwood made steady starts to their third rounds as the English trio looked to close the gap on Nirat.
Heath made an ideal start to his round at the Yalong Bay Golf Club with a birdie four at the first to move to 10 under-par through three holes, while Liverpool’s Dougherty remained at nine-under after two holes of his third round.
Westwood, who carded a disappointing 70 on Friday following his opening round 66, joined Dougherty and Sam Little on nine under through six after also picking up a birdie at the par-five 579- yard first.
Little followed the trend and picked up a birdie to open his round but dropped the shot at the next hole, while Heath’s playing partner and compatriot Miles Tunnicliff also remained at nine-under after three.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who narrowly beat Friday’s five-under-par-cut, carded a level-par 72 to remain at five under, while England’s Simon Hurd failed to build on his second round 67, dropping back to four-under after shooting a two-over-par 72.