American Ted Purdy fired a battling even-par 71 to keep the lead in the US$500,000 Volvo Masters of Asia today at Bangkok Golf Club. Purdy, the leader by five at the start of the third round, was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Taiwan's Lin Keng-chi, who shot a
superb 65.

They lead the event on 14-under-par 199 by a stroke from Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Thammanoon Srirot, who played together and both shot 65s.

The Volvo Masters of Asia is the season-ending Tour championship on the Asian PGA Tour and features the top-60 players from the circuit.

Purdy was in blistering form on the first two days shooting rounds of 62 and 66 but the wheels came off today. He began well with birdies on the second and sixth but then hit trouble with a triple-bogey seven on the eighth, where he hooked his four-iron second shot out-of-bounds. They were his first dropped shots of the week. He recovered with a birdie on the next hole but could not get going on the homeward half.

He three putted the 17th for bogey and found water on the par five 18th with his second shot. He led Lin by one playing the last and fancied his chances of making a birdie by reaching the green with a five wood from 217 yards. However, he leaked the shot right into a lake and had a battle on his hands to make par. A brilliant fourth shot to three feet from 140 yards made sure he secured a five.

"I really played fine, I was just tentative. I left a lot of putts short, which I think was to do with nerves. Sports psychologists say that when you are nervous you tend to come up short with your putts. In hindsight I should have been aware of that," said Purdy.

The American has won once before on the Asian PGA Tour in the Indian Masters in 1997. He has finished in the top four nine times so he is hungry for a second win.

"I was happier with a five shot lead but I am still happy to have a chance. The guys are obviously playing well so I will have to regroup and have a good round tomorrow to win this," added the 30-year-old.

Lin has won five times on the Asian PGA Tour with his last victory coming in this year's Myanmar Open.

"I played really well, I don't think I hit a poor shot all day. I got hot on the front with five birdies but started missing so many on the back nine. I stroked the ball well but just didn't find the correct lines," said Lin.

The Taiwanese golfer went out in five-under-par 30 but could only manage one birdie on the back side.

"Whenever I come back to Asia, I feel really happy and often play my best golf. I'm in a good position and it's difficult to predict the winning score. Tomorrow is another day."

Thongchai made just one bogey and showed that he had recovered from his long flight from the US PGA Tour Qualifying School this week. He was unsuccessful at the school in Florida and only arrived on Wednesday.

"I'm in a good position but I think I need a really low round to win, perhaps a 63. I'm feeling good with my game right now and I'm very comfortable over this golf course. I've played here many times previously and I'm looking forward to the final round," said Thongchai.

Thammanoon's strategy of not using a driver this week has served him well so far. He also dropped one shot and will once again play with Thongchai in the final round.

"I have not been hitting my driver very well. It has been going left and right. I have been using a three wood this week and it has kept me in play nicely," said Thammanoon, who finished fourth on the Challenge Tour Money List in Japan this year to qualify for next year's main tour.

India's Arjun Atwal carded a 76 and is seven over for the tournament. Atwal leads the Order of Merit list from Zhang Lian-wei and can only be overtaken if the Chinese star finishes first or second tomorrow.

Zhang, who trails Atwal by US$31,600, gave himself a chance of doing just that by carding a 65 to go to eight under.

"I spent an hour on the range last night practising short putts and it paid off," said Zhang.

He shot six birdies and plans to make a charge in the final round.

"I will step on the gas tomorrow and try and take the Merit title," added the Chinese golfer.

Leading third round scores
199 - Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 65-69-65, Ted Purdy (USA) 62-66-71
200 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 71-64-65, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 68-67-65
202 - Matthew Cort (ENG) 69-67-66
203 - Unho Park (AUS) 67-66-70
204 - Des Terblanche (RSA) 68-70-66, Amandeep Johl (IND) 69-69-66, Simon
Yates (SCO) 69-68-67, Clay Devers (USA) 69-67-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA)
69-67-68, Andrew Marshall (ENG) 72-63-69, Chris Williams (RSA) 72-63-69,
Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-64-70, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 67-67-70
205 - Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 71-69-65, Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 69-70-66, Prayad
Marksaeng (THA) 68-70-67, Pablo Del Olmo (MEX) 65-71-69, Gary Rusnak (USA)
66-68-71
206 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 71-67-68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 68-67-71
207 - Andrew Raitt (ENG) 71-68-68, Mike Cunning (USA) 70-68-69, Stephen
Dodd (WAL) 68-69-70
208 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 73-68-67, David Gleeson (AUS) 72-68-68,
Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 68-68-72, Jason Dawes (AUS) 68-68-72