Published on January 15, 2005

[GOLF] Thammanoon Sriroj moved ominously closer to his third successive Singha Masters trophy yesterday, firing a six under bogey-free round to remain solid at the top of the leaderboard.

The champion in 2000 and 2002 secured six birdies at holes 2, 8, 10, 13, 14 and 17 for a six under 66 and an aggregate 21 under 195 at the 6,853 yard Santiburi Country Club in Chiang Rai.

For three days in a row Thammanoon has collected birdies and never once came close to facing a bogey. Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee had a five under 67 for a total of 17 under 199 to stay second. Teenager Prom Meesawat hit a six under 66 to stay at third.

Meanwhile in Cape Town, South Africa, South Africa’s David Frost shot a course record seven-under-par 65 on Thursday in the first round of the African leg of the International Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at the Atlantic Beach Country Club.

The top three players after the second round will earn automatic qualification for the 134th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland in July.

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SINGHA LEADERBOARD

195 Thammanoon Sriroj 65-64-66

199 Thongchai Jaidee 67-65-67; Prom Meesawat 68-65-66

203 Prayad Marksaeng 70-67-66

205 Kenny Walker (Scotland) 68-68-69; Lam Chih Bing (Sin) 68-67-70

207 Chaowalit Plapol 69-66-72

208 Manas Saengsui 67-75-66

209 Boonchu Ruengkij 67-73-69

211 Nadeem Inayut (Pak) 70-70-71

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