Peter Uihlein’s recent victory on The International Series has clearly had a profound impact on the American as he took control of the International Series Thailand today – opening up a three-shot lead at Thai Country Club, in Bangkok.
Related: Peter Uihlein unleashes 62 in pursuit of Thailand high
He fired a third-round three-under-par 67 for a three-round aggregate of 17-under, in the sixth stop on The International Series this year – 10 Asian Tour sanctioned events that provide a pathway onto the LIV Golf League.
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Sitting in second place are Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (63), a star on this year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT), Rayhan Thomas (64) from India, Swede Charlie Lindh (65), Max Lee Chieh-po (67) from Chinese-Taipei and Australian Maverick Antcliff (69).
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American John Catlin showed why he is the number one ranked player on both the Asian Tour and The International Series by shooting the lowest round of the week, a 61. He is another stroke back with Filipino Miguel Tabuena (65) and David Boriboonsub (67) from Thailand.
Uihlein’s round didn’t match his spectacular opening rounds of 64 and 62 but he was content with a performance that puts him in the driver’s seat with one round to go.
“Overall, it was fine,” said Uihlein, who led by one from Antcliff at the start of the day, “you know, it was a good enough day where I felt like it could’ve been really, really good. But, yeah, we’ll see.”
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The American is presently third on The International Series Rankings and with five events to go, including this week, he needs a win tomorrow to help close the gap on runaway rankings leader Catlin.
A prodigious hitter of the golf ball, he is laying siege to Thai Country Club – which is not the longest course and has wide fairways. Other factors are also helping him overpower the layout.
He explained: “Yeah, I mean, I think we’re taking off like four or five yards just based on heat, right? So, we’re taking off some distance, and then every ball basically is a flyer out of the rough, so if we’re in the rough we’re just kind of catching fliers. And it’s hot, so we’re taking off probably 20-25 yards just in the rough alone. So, yeah, even from the fairway and the tee we’re taking off distance just because it’s really, really hot.”
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Baig has emerged as the surprise package after recording one of the finest rounds of his career, which, remarkably, started with three birdies in-a-row and ended in the same manner.
He has been enjoying a breakthrough year on the ADT with two victories and is currently in second place on that Merit list.
Said the 26-year-old about playing on the Asian Tour: “It feels totally different especially because on the Asian Tour there are so many big names playing. So yeah, it’s a very good experience for me.”
Tomorrow Baig, who has a reputation for firepower off the tee, will attempt to become only the second player from his country to win on the Asian Tour. Taimur Hussain was the first, winning the 1998 Myanmar Open.
Thomas is also catching the eye, having only played a handful of events since turning professional this year
“I graduated at the end of May, so I just turned pro, kind of at the start of June,” said Thomas, who went to Oklahoma State.
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In August we won on his debut on the Professional Golf Tour of India, winning the Coimbatore Open, and just earlier than that he tied for eighth in the International Series Morocco.
He added: “I’ve gained confidence every week, which is good. I’ve been able to step up at the right times, and so it’s been trending the right way, and hopefully I can keep it going.”
Catlin made an eagle and seven birdies to give himself another chance of a third win this year. He’s also lost in two play-offs, including at last week’s Back Mountain Championship to countryman Michael Maguire.
He felt he had a sniff of a 59 today – to add to the one he made at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March, which was an Asian Tour first.
“There were a couple that shaved the edge,” he said.
“There was a moment there when I thought about the 59 again. It was just a special day, and it puts me in a position where I can maybe try and get after it again tomorrow.”
