Chinese Taipei, September 29: Overnight co-leader Adilson Da Silva of Brazil edged closer to his long-awaited Asian Tour breakthrough after battling to a two-under-par 70 to grab the outright lead following the penultimate round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.

The 46-year-old Brazilian, who claimed a second joint runner-up finish in the storied event 12 months ago, continued to bank on his past experiences as he carded four birdies against two bogeys to lead by one shot on five-under-par 211 total in the US$850,000 event.

Home hero Lin Wen-tang raised the local hopes after signing for a 70 to share second place with South African Justin Harding (71), young Thai Jazz Janewattananond (70) and Heungchol Joo of Korea (66) at the fabled Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Qualifying school graduate Joo, who sank the first ace of the week on the par-three eighth hole yesterday, returned with the day’s best score after posting a bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies in the event, which is celebrating its 32nd edition this week.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, American Berry Henson and Chinese star Liang Wen-chong shared sixth place on 213 following respective rounds of 69, 69 and 70 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, which hails as the longest running full-field event on the Asian Tour.

Players are vying to boost their Merit rankings with good showings this week as the top 10 and top four players (not otherwise exempt) on the Habitat for Humanity standings will qualify for the US$7 million CIMB Classic and US$10 million WGC-HSBC Champions staged in Malaysia and China respectively.

The Mercuries Taiwan Masters will be the penultimate event for players to try and boost their rankings on the Habitat for Humanity Standings before the cut-off date on October 7.

Did you know?

• Adilson Da Silva holds the 54-hole lead for the first time in six appearances at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
• Da Silva has an impeccable track record at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He has not finished outside top-three in his last three starts in the storied event. In his debut appearance in 2012, he also enjoyed a tied-ninth place finish.
• Prior to this week, Da Silva has made only three cuts in 11 starts this season. He claimed a tied-ninth place result in Japan last week to propel to 65th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings. Needs a strong performance this week to break into top-60 and retain his card for the 2019 season.
• Last year, Da Silva came in joint runner-up after finishing two shots back of winner Gavin Green of Malaysia.
• Da Silva enjoyed a career high in 2016 when he was given the honour of striking the first tee shot at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro when golf made a return into the programme after 112 years.
• Da Silva has won multiple times on the Sunshine Tour but is still searching for a first win on the Asian Tour.
• Da Silva started playing extensively in Zimbabwe from between 1996 to 2003, winning more than 30 titles and five Zimbabwean Order of Merit crowns. Played in the British Open in 2000 and 2007.
• Justin Harding is playing in only his sixth start on the Asian Tour this season. He has claimed two victories and a runner-up finish so far.
• Harding broke into top-10 on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings following his second-place result in Japan last week. He sits in a current eighth position.
• The 32-year-old Harding won his first Asian Tour title in his first start on Tour this season at the BANK BRI Indonesia Open in July. He later claimed a six-shot victory at the Royal Cup to become the first player since 2011 to win back-to-back titles on the region’s premier Tour.
• Harding is the higest-ranked player in the field in 97th place on the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
• Lin Wen-tang is one of Chinese Taipei’s most successful golfers. He holds a total of six victories on the Asian Tour, including the Mercuries Taiwan Masters which he won in 2009. Lin has also won twice on home soil on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
• Jazz Janewattananond claimed his second Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup on home soil in June.
• The 22-year-old Thai went on to make his Major debut at The Open at Carnoustie.
• Placed 14th on the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, Jazz has a good chance to qualify for the upcoming CIMB Classic if he can break into top-10 with a good result this week.
• Heungchol Joo turned professional in 2007. He has won three times on his local circuit.
• Joo came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School for the first time in three attempts earlier in January.
• The 37-year-old Joo has missed only one cut in seven starts so far this season. He aced the par-three eighth hole in the second round after hitting a four-iron from 172 metres.

Players’ quotes:

Adilson Da Silva (Bra) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 211, (-5)

It was a perfect day, no wind nothing. I didn’t really get off to a good start, bogeyed the second hole. I hit short of the green and had a bad lie there. I just kept hanging there and got a few birdies in after that.

On the back nine, I just kept it in play again. I hit good tee shots and gave myself good chances to attack the pins with my second shots. I just played steady. I think the par on the 10th hole is my best hole today. I hit it to the right again, chipped it close and made the four-footer for par.

I am just going to do the same tomorrow. Stay patient because this course can really test you very quickly. I just need to be very patient, play one shot at a time. Even today, I kept telling myself to be patient as well. Even a day like this, you need to be very patient as well.

Justin Harding (Rsa) – Third round 71 (-1), Total 212 (-4)

I played really well on the front nine. I think it have been a couple lower than three-under-par. But I played bad on the back nine. Nothing seems to happen when I put myself in play. I didn’t make putts, missed a tap-in on the 17th hole and three-putted the 15th hole.

It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for obviously. I was looking to at least maintain a bit of momentum. I wanted to give myself a lot of space but it wasn’t the case. Adilson played really well today.

At the end of the day, it’s going to be a little bit of a dog fight tomorrow. There wasn’t much breeze today. Personally, I thought the golf course today was just there for you to score. I don’t know too much about what other players shot but I felt like I left four to five shots out there quite comfortably.

It’s going to be the same thing tomorrow. I’ll just keep executing shots, try and make less mistakes tomorrow.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 212 (-4)

I started very well today, slowed down in the middle and didn’t finish well with two closing bogeys. But on a course like that, you can’t mind too much if you bogey. I am looking forward to starting fresh tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes.

There was less wind today and easier to play for sure. I think two-under is not a bad score. It’s not great but I think that will do the job today. My eagle putt lipped out on the par-five sixth hole but it was still nice to get three birdies in a row.

My approach shots were good. It was pretty good all around. I just putted better on my front nine. I don’t what’s going to happen with the weather tomorrow. It might just change to a sunny day but whatever it is, I will go out and try my best to shoot a good score.

I think I still have a good chance to qualify for the CIMB Classic so that’s definitely at the back of my mind. Hopefully I can secure a good result this week and leave myself with lesser work next week.

Lin Wen-tang (Tpe) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 212 (-4)

I played pretty steady today, especially at the start of the round. I birdied second and missed a short putt for birdie on third. I hit a good drive on the fifth which bounced to the left of the fairway and then hit my 50 degree from about 117 yards and the ball disappeared on the green!

I left a few shots out there. My putts didn’t really drop on the back nine. But overall, I played consistently. Playing on this course, I know I just need to try and do my best. This course is not as easy as it looks.

Like Liang Wen-chong today, he played really well today. His iron shots were great but his putts just didn’t seem to drop. The greens are tricky here. One more day to go, I’ll just do my best tomorrow.

Heungchol Joo (Kor) – Third round 66 (-6), Total 212 (-4)

I putted really well today. I made two long putts from 20 metres for birdies on 12 and 16. On the fourth and fifth holes, I hit it close and tapped in for birdies. It was nice to come back with a bogey-free round.

It was less windy out there today. I guess that helped. I made a hole-in-one yesterday and felt really good about the course when I went out this morning. There are just a lot of good vibes out there.

This is my first time playing in the event so I am happy with where I stand now. The greens are tricky here and it’s hard to read. But I will try my best again tomorrow. It’s also my first time playing in Chinese Taipei. It has been really enjoyable so far.

The season’s been good since getting my card at the Qualifying School. Hopefully I can continue playing well in the final round tomorrow.

Scores after round 3 of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters being played at the par 72, 6923 Yards Tamsui Course course (am – denotes amateur):

211 – Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 71-70-70.

212 – Heungchol JOO (KOR) 75-71-66, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 70-72-70, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 70-72-70, Justin HARDING (RSA) 68-73-71.

213 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 73-71-69, Berry HENSON (USA) 71-73-69, LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 70-73-70.

214 – LU Chien-soon (TPE) 72-74-68, TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 71-71-72, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 68-73-73.

215 – HSIEH Tung-hung (TPE) 75-71-69, LU Wei-chih (TPE) 73-71-71, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-73-71.

216 – Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 68-77-71, WANG Wei-hsuan (am, TPE) 72-72-72, Josh YOUNGER (AUS) 72-72-72.

Ends.