Kuboya eyes first Asian Tour title

SIEM REAP (Cambodia) (AFP) - Japans Kenichi Kuboya is eyeing his first Asian Tour title after sharing the third round lead with South Koreas Kim Hyung-Sung at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open on Saturday. Kuboya produced another bogey-free round of three-under-par 69 while Kim posted a 67 as both stood on a total of 15-under-par 201 after 54 holes at the Phokeethra Country Club. Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand struck a 65 to lie in third place on 202. Fellow Thai Prayad Marksaeng, together with defending champion Marcus Both of Australia and Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands are bunched in fourth place on 204. Kuboya, who earned his Tour card by graduating from the Asian Tour qualifying school in January, has been at the top of his game since the opening round. The 38-year-old Japanese is optimistic of his chances on the final day at the 300,000-dollar Asian Tour event before the season finale Black Mountain Masters in Hua Hin, Thailand, next week. Im ready, said the Japanese. Sixty-nine is a good score for me. Even though its higher than my scores in the previous two rounds, Im confident that I can do well tomorrow as Im playing well. Kim kept up the pressure when he signed his card with five birdies. Ive no complaints about how Ive played today. Everything worked out well and I want to challenge for the title tomorrow, said the Korean. Thongchai remained on course to win his 13th Asian Tour title after a flawless 65 which he attributed to his good putting. I think the key for me all week is my putting. I played very steady all week. The course is not very difficult. If you have a good game plan, you can be aggressive and attack the pins as the greens are very soft, said Thongchai. It has been a good week and Ive been playing very solid. I hope to repeat my win here again, added Thongchai, who won the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open in 2008. Prayad, a six-time Asian Tour winner, hit a hole in one on the par-three 16th. Its always a special feeling when you get a hole-in-one in any tournament. Everything just went right for me today and Ive no complaints. Lets see how it goes on the final day tomorrow, said Prayad.

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