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Thanyakon Khrongpha leads by two strokes at Chiang Mai Classic

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CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha shot a 5-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead over Indian pair Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid Khan after the third round the Chiang Mai Classic on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Khrongpha, and the eight-time Asian Tour winner Randhawa were engaged in a see-saw battle at the top of the leaderboard all day.

The pair were tied at 14-under after 17 holes, before Randhawa's bogey on the 18th hole handed his counterpart the initiative. Khrongpha capitalized, ending his round with a birdie, to card 15-under 201.

"I played better than I had expected. I was really happy to birdie the last. I guess I was lucky as well because Jyoti bogeyed the last. I putted perfectly today," Khrongpha said.

"I am just worried about my long irons now because I didn't hit it as well today. I actually changed my irons back to my old ones because I felt more comfortable with it. It had worked out well for me," added Khrongpha, as he chases his first Tour title.

Randhawa fired a 70 for a three day total of 203 and had to share second place with his countryman Khan, who fired seven birdies against a lone bogey for a 66.

A stroke behind, and level in fourth place is Australian Kalem Richardson who produced the day's lowest round of 64 for a total 12-under-par 204. Scott Barr who shot a 67 was tied with fellow countryman Richardson.