In-form Tirawat three ahead of rivals in Nara

Nara: Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit opened up a three-shot lead after the third round of the 38th Shinhan Donghae Open yesterday following a fine five-under-par 66.

Playing some of the best golf of his 12-year professional career he reached 19 under for the tournament — which is the second lowest 54-hole total of the season.

Korean Kim Si-Woo, the event’s marquee player with three wins on the PGA Tour, fired a 67 to sit solo second.

The event is being played in Japan for the first time in its history and is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan tours. The venue is the Koma Country Club in Nara, near Osaka.

Canadian Yonggu Shin and Lee Sang-Hee from South Korea both returned 66s and are a further shot back.

Tirawat led after the first two rounds thanks to a pair of sublime 64s and began yesterday in the same impressive manner.

“I started really good…