Unheralded young Frenchman Clement Sordet fired a cracking nine-under 63 to seize the lead in the third round of the Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club Saturday. Sordet, who ironically was the very last golfer to be invited to compete in the tournament, played superbly to leave overnight leader Jamie Donaldson two shots adrift after the Welshman shot a 71. Lee Westwood, a two-time champion of the tournament, gave himself a chance to make it a hat-trick with an excellent eight-under 64, to move up the leaderboard into third place, one shot behind Donaldson. Korea's An Byeong-hun took over fourth spot following a 68, with Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia (70) and Martin Kaymer (72) a further stroke behind in joint fifth place. The unassuming Sordet, who is just 23 and only turned professional in July, was delighted with his faultless round which included seven birdies and an eagle. Sordet, ranked 481 in the world, said he felt good about the prospect of playing with the likes of such stars as Westwood and Donaldson in the final round. Donaldson, who had led for the first two rounds, said he was playing quite happily on the first nine, but then things changed dramatically with a double-bogey at the 12th. Donaldson is experienced enough to know he is still in with a very good chance. Westwood, who won this tournament in 2011 and again last year, has his eyes on the title once again after an impressive round in which he sunk nine birdies and suffered just the one bogey. "It certainly gives me confidence knowing I'm playing a course on which I have won twice before," said the Englishman. Bubba Watson once again struggled to find his touch and had to settle for a 72 to put him well down the field. Berger and Hoffman seize lead Americans Charley Hoffman and Daniel Berger combined for an eight-under par 64 in Friday's modified alternate shot format to seize a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the 27th annual Franklin Templeton Shootout. The three-day invitational event hosted by retired Australian star Greg Norman in Naples, Florida, matches 12 pairs of men's golfers in three different styles, Thursday's scramble and Friday's modified alternate shot followed by Saturday's final round better-ball format. Berger, 22 and the 2015 PGA Rookie of the Year, and Hoffman, 38 and last a winner in 2014 at Mexico, were among nine first-time pairings in this year's event. They stood on 20-under 124 after 36 holes with two other US duos, Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker and first-day leaders Harris English and Matt Kuchar, a stroke adrift. Dufner and Snedeker matched the leaders for the day's low round. Americans Billy Horschel and Hunter Mahan were fourth on 127, two shots in front of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and American Gary Woodland as well as American Cameron Tringale and Colombian Camilo Villegas. — Agencies
