Nirat soars to Sentosa lead

Nirat: spectacular eagle

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Chapchai Nirat of Thailand had opened a two-shot lead by the time darkness brought an end to the third round of the Barclays Singapore Open.

Long weather delays over the first two days meant play was once again running behind schedule on Saturday with only 27 of the 72 competitors able to finish their third rounds.

It was Nirat who made the biggest move of the day as an eagle helped the 25-year-old to reach nine-under-par by the time a halt was called to proceedings.

The Thai completed 12 holes of his third round and currently sits two clear of a trio of players; Simon Dyson, Lam Chih Bing and Thomas Bjorn, all of whom had also to finish their rounds.

Another two strokes back on five-under are a group of five players that comprises major winners Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington and also Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Northern Irish starlet Rory McIlroy.

However, it's Nirat who leads the way after a stunning finish to his day when he chipped in from 118 yards for eagle at the 11th.

Nirat started his third round on four-under, two strokes adrift of co-leaders Simon Dyson and Ernie Els, but made birdies at three and four to give himself some early momentum.

He was still a shot adrift of the leaders, by that stage Dyson and local favourite Bing, but made it a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard as he sunk a ten-footer for birdie at the tenth.

He then opened himself a two-shot advantage as he holed his second with a pitching wedge at the 11th for a spectacular eagle.

A par followed at the next before the encroaching gloom ensured play was halted.

It is Harrington who holds the clubhouse lead with his 66 revitalising his bid for victory at the Sentosa Golf Club.