Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, armed with a new swing, putter and shafts, marched into the lead at the SJM Macao Open today – looking every bit the golfer who has won two of the biggest titles on the Asian Tour.
The 26-year-old took charge of the US$1million event by making a brilliant 20-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th to shoot a third-round seven-under-par 63.
Related: Gunn, Ding strike first at Macao Open
It is the joint-lowest round of the week and saw him take the lead on 12-under, by three shots from Wocheng Ye – the unsung Chinese golfer, who carded a 66.
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Ye’s compatriot and former college mate Bobby Bai (67), Australians Jack Thompson (68) and Brett Rankin (66), Germany’s Dominic Foos (68) and Siddikur Rahman (66) from Bangladesh, are another stroke back.
China’s Wenyi Ding, the joint first-round leader with Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand, is also in that group after a 69. Gunn fell back after a 71 and is six under.
Sarit, winner of the Indonesian Masters in 2022 and Volvo China Open the following year, has had a relatively quiet season. He is currently in 34th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – principally thanks to two top-12 finishes in his last two events. They have been the highlights of his season so far – the result of adjustments to his swing and equipment that appear to have got him back on track.
He said: “I have done a few things. I was just swinging my arms and not turning my body, I changed to softer shafts so I can hit a cut more easily plus I have a different putter – that’s been important and working well.”
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His three on the last was the result of a giant eight iron second shot on a hole that is 576 yards.
“I think it was all about putting today,” he added.
“Even though I had two three-putts I still made a lot of birdie putts. I missed one three-footer, but other than that I made everything so it’s the putter that kept the momentum going.
“For sure, I never change my plan. If I have a chance to be aggressive, I will always be aggressive. I mean, you got to commit to the shot and then hit. A bad shot is still bad shot, so I’m going to stick to my plan.”
Sarit is one of the strongest drivers on Tour – an attribute not a necessity at Macau Golf & Country Club, where accuracy is key. However, the man nicknamed ‘Safe’ was long and straight today on his way to making an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys. Surprisingly, he three putted the 16th for a bogey from 30 feet.
Thirteen years ago Ye made headlines when at the age of 12 he became the youngest player to compete in the Volvo China Open.
Birdies on the last three holes, as well as three on the trot from the sixth, saw him in the spotlight today.
“I made a double on a par-five, the 13th, so to make birdies on the last three was a great comeback,” said the 24-year-old, whose English name is Aden.
“It will be good momentum going into the next two rounds. I think all the clubs are working pretty well, and especially my putting, so hopefully I can keep going.”
Ye turned professional five years ago and has been playing on both the China and Canadian Tours, winning twice on the former in 2021.
He went to Eagles Dream Golf Academy in Orlando with Bai in the late 2010s.
Bai finished joint fourth in a Challenge Tour event in China last week and moved up the leaderboard this morning with four birdies in a row from the third.
“I got my iron shots back,” he said. “My ball striking is pretty good this week and last week as well. Tee shots are getting much better from last month, and this week my putting is going pretty well.”
Veteran Rahman, aged 40 and a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally as delighted with his round – on a short course that suits his accurate play.
