DP World Tour: In the final round of the Thailand Classic on the DP World Tour, Thorbjorn Olesen leads by two shots, with Nicolai Hojgaard in the pack of challengers.
Olesen shot a superb bogey-free 64 on Saturday at Amata Spring Golf Club to follow back-to-back 67s on the previous two days. The six-time DP World Tour champion had eight birdies to get to 18 under par.
The Dane was two shots back going into the weekend, but he birdied three of his first six holes, made four straight birdies starting at the ninth hole, took advantage of the par-five 15th, and finished the third round without a single blemish.
.@Thorbjornolesen leads going into the final round.#ThailandClassic
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 18, 2023
Olesen remarked, “I believe overall it was a pretty nice round. “I avoided most problems, and on a few of the par fours and par fives, I hit it close enough to allow me a two-putt birdie. It’s wonderful that I made it reasonably simple for myself. It isn’t always the case.”
Compatriot Hojgaard matched Olesen’s 64 to tie for second place with German Yannik Paul, who shot a back nine 31 to also reach 16 under. Joost Luiten of the Netherlands was three strokes back in fourth place.
Hojgaard made birdies on four of his first six holes, making up for a bogey at the par-three eighth with a spectacular eagle at the par-five eleventh. He then added birdies at the thirteenth, fifteenth, and seventeenth holes to guarantee his place in the final group on Sunday.
Hojgaard stated, “I haven’t played well in a very long time, but this year I feel like I’ve added some consistency to the game. “I like where I am right now and the direction things are going. Consistency is usually beneficial, and this year it has made a difference. You obviously enjoy competing for victories, and I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
Dale Whitnell of England shot a round of 67 without making a bogey to tie for fifth place with Jeunghun Wang and Kazuki Higa, while overnight leader Rafa Cabrera Bello dropped five strokes back into a tie for eight after carding a level-par 72 that included two bogeys and the same number of birdies.
The third round of the Thailand Classic featured a moment of remembrance for former European Tour chief referee John Paramor, one of golf’s most recognisable rules officials, who passed away at the age of 67.
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