Jakarta, December 15: Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, dubbed the ‘assassin’ by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, will have another chance to take down the Major winner when they are paired together in the final group of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), PT.Lautan Luas.Tbk and Bank Mandiri on Sunday.

Poom caused one of the one of the biggest upsets early in the year when he defeated Stenson at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia at the start of the year.

The 25-year-old Thai is looking for another repeat after he held on to his overnight lead by posting a two-under-par 70 to take a three-shot advantage over his idol, Stenson.

Playing in Indonesia for the first time, Stenson carded the lowest round of the day with a 68 to take second place with his three-day total of 13-under-par 203 at the Asian Tour season-ending event.

The Major winner is ready to put up another gallant fight to deny Poom of having bragging rights over him again at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond snatched the outright third place after returning with a 69 to put himself within sights of ending his year inside the top-10 on the Habitat for Humanity standings.

Panuphol, who earned his Asian Tour breakthrough in Indonesia last year, was pleased with his third round efforts after signing for a 70 that placed him in a share of fourth place with defending champion Justin Rose and compatriot Jakraphan Premsirigorn.

With seven shots separating him and Poom heading into the final 18 holes, Panuphol is aware of the challenges ahead and is determined to surmount a late charge.

Did you know?

• Poom Saksansin met his golf idol Henrik Stenson at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in January this year. Together with his teammate Sunghoon Kang of Korea, they caused one of the biggest upsets of the week by defeating the Swede and Alexander Levy 5&4 in the opening fourball match.
• He broke his previous lowest round (65) at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club with a 63 during the second round on Friday.
• Poom claimed his breakthrough at the Indonesian Masters in 2016. He went on to claim a wire-to-wire victory for his second Asian Tour title in India last year.
• Poom is ranked the second-best putter in the field so far this week. He averaged 1.42 putts per greens in regulations.
• Poom is chasing to become the second player following Lee Westwood to win the Indonesian Masters more than once.
• Poom won by five strokes with a winning total of 18-under-par 270 two years ago.
• Henrik Stenson last won on the Asian Tour at the 2006 Qatar Masters.
• The 42-year-old Stenson is playing for the time in Indonesia. His third round 68 is the lowest 18-hole score of the day.
• Stenson is the first male Swedish Major champion, having won the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon with a major championship record score of 264.
• In his 20-year professional career, Stenson has won more than 20 titles worldwide.
• Stenson is a natural left-hander but he learned to play golf right-handed.
• Jazz Janewattananond won his first Asian Tour title at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open and claimed his second win at the Queen’s Cup on home soil in June.
• His breakthrough victory in Bangladesh was especially sweet as he had finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School.
• He sits in a career-high 11th place on the current Habitat for Humanity Standings where he finished 13th last year.
• In 2018, he came in tied-fourth at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open and earned a coveted spot at The Open where he made his Major debut.
• Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.
• Panuphol Pittayarat is playing in his eighth season on the Asian Tour and has won twice.
• He finished in tied-51st place at the Indonesian Masters last year.
• He broke into the world’s top-200 for the first time in his career after claiming a one-shot victory on his home course at the Thai Country Club.
• That win was his second victory on the Asian Tour after his breakthrough at the Indonesia in 2017.
• Panuphol turned professional in 2007 at a young age of 14 and was nicknamed ‘Coconut’ by his parents.
• Only 12 players broke par on a wind-swept day at the BNI Indonesian Masters.

Players’ Quotes

Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 200 (-16)

I am happy with the way I played today. It was really windy and very difficult out there. I tried my best to keep the ball in play. I think I played good today.  I have been playing this course for the past five years and I have won here in 2016. I think I know this golf course pretty well. That will give me the advantage tomorrow. I think it’s good enough that I am playing with Henrik Stenson tomorrow. I am happy to be able to play with him again. He gave me an autographed shirt earlier this year when we met in Malaysia and I still keep that properly at home.

Henrik Stenson (Swe) – Third round 68 (-4), Total 203 (-13)

I had a good practice yesterday afternoon. It was very similar conditions to what I played the last seven or eight holes in yesterday so I guess when the breeze came up at the middle of the front nine today I was kind of used to it. I tried to make the right decisions and hit committed shots. I left myself some good birdie chances and holed some lovely putts on seven and eight to grab a couple of birdies there. And on the back nine there was a lot of fighting and a lot of par saves. It was nice to finish with a good up and down on the last. We (Justin Rose and I) had a good day out there. You still focus hard on your own game but it was certainly a bit more relaxed. We had a bit more conversation than you would with someone you don’t know well. He obviously has a lot to play for tomorrow to regain that world number one title. Not at all, not if I have a chance. We will see if he can go easy on the old guy instead. He played fantastic in our first match at the EurAsia Cup, him and his partner put up a string of eight straight birdies and we did not have chance. I know he is a very capable player and he has shown that for the first three days here.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Third round 69 (-2), Total 206 (-10)

I gave myself a good chance for eagle on the last. I tried to go for it but fell short. It was a tough round today. Everyone struggled. You see only a couple of good scores, like Stenson. He is playing pretty good. Poom still got the big lead as well. Overall, I am pretty happy with myself. Tough day today. Poom is dropping putts out there. If he continues to do that tomorrow, I don’t think anyone can catch him. But having said that, it’s a brand-new day tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes. I would say this year is pretty similar to last year. I had one win each. I am hoping for a good finish this week as that would help me break into top-10 on the final Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 207 (-9)

It was a windy day. I managed to keep the ball under the wind for most of the round. You gonna make some and missed some. I dropped one shot today which was caused by the wind I think but I am happy to put myself in a great position heading into the final day.

I’m really happy to see Poom up on the leaderboard. I am happy to see someone from my country flying our flag up there. I won my first Asian Tour win in Indonesia two years ago. Feels great to be great here, although it’s a different course. The weather and environment are different. It’s been an on and off season for me actually. I played a little bit in Japan as well. It’s great to have a win at my National Open earlier. I really like my game.

Leading Scores after round 3 of the BNI Indonesian Masters being played at the par 72, 7361 Yards Royale Jakarta GC course (am – denotes amateur):

200 – Poom Saksansin (THA) 67-63-70.

203 – Henrik Stenson (SWE) 67-68-68.

206 – Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 68-69-69.

207 – Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 71-66-70, Justin Rose (ENG) 68-68-71, Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA) 68-65-74.

208 – Sihwan Kim (USA) 69-69-70, Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-66-71, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 67-66-75.

210 – Jarin Todd (USA) 68-70-72.

211 – Anirban Lahiri (IND) 68-72-71, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 69-70-72, Sungho Lee (KOR) 66-71-74, Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) 67-70-74.

212 – Jarryd Felton (AUS) 67-76-69, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 69-67-76.