Asian Tour — Darren Clarke has a chance to end the season with his first Top 10 for more than two years at the Thailand Golf Championship.

As French talent Clement Sordet took advantage of a sponsor’s invitation to stormed into a two shot lead thanks to a  nine-under 63 on Saturday, Clarke shot a third successive sub par round to go into the final day a stroke outside the top 10 on seven under.

A three under 69 left Clarke in joint 14th place as 23-year old Sordet got to 16-under for a two-shot lead over Wales’ Jamie Donaldson, who had led the opening two rounds at the US$1 million Asian Tour event.

Scores

Lee Westwood remains on target for his Thailand Golf Championship treble as he made his move with a 64 to take third place with Korea’s Byeonghun An a further shot back in fourth place on 204 total at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Having only turned professional in July this year, Sordet clinched his first victory in just his fourth start as a professional in Northern Ireland the following month.

The Frenchman is continuing to make his mark abroad by eclipsing the marquee names at the Thai showpiece which he fears may now give him a sleepless night.

“Hopefully I can sleep well tonight. I’ll try not take a nap this afternoon so I can sleep well tonight.

“It’s pretty much my dream to play with the top players in the field. I’ll do that tomorrow and hopefully I’ll enjoy it and just play my own game,” said Sordet.

McDowell and Woodland five back at Tiburón

PGA Tour — Graeme McDowell and Gary Woodland slipped five shots behind Charley Hoffman and Daniel Berger ahead of today's third and final round at the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Florida.

Hoffman and Berger had birdies on the last three holes to finish eight under for the day and 20-under 124 for the tournament to lead Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner and opening-day leaders Matt Kuchar and Harris English by a stroke.

Five teams are within five shots of the leaders after the modified alternate-shot format*, including McDowell and Woodland, who are tied fifth on 15 under after a two under 70 on Friday.

The final round will be Saturday, with a better-ball format.

• First Round, Scramble - Each player hits a drive on every hole and the best drive is selected. Each player then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected drive lays, and the best second shot is selected. This process is repeated until the hole is completed.
• Second Round, Modified Alternate Shot - Each player hits a drive on every hole and one drive is selected. The player whose drive is NOT selected hits the second shot, and they alternate shots until the ball is holed.
• Final Round, Better Ball - Each player plays through every hole using his own ball. The player whose score is the lowest on each hole will be the team score for that hole.

Thailand Golf Championship, Amata Spring (Par 72, 7498 Yards)

200 – Clement SORDET (FRA) 71-66-63.

202 – Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) 63-68-71.

203 – Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 71-68-64.

204 – Byeonghun AN (KOR) 69-67-68.

205 – Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 66-69-70, Martin KAYMER (GER) 68-65-72.

206 – Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 70-68-68.

207 – Matthew FITZPATRICK (ENG) 68-67-72.

208 – Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 68-76-64, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 68-74-66, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 73-68-67, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-72-67, Sunghoon KANG (KOR) 70-68-70.

209 – S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND) 72-69-68, Darren CLARKE (NIR) 69-71-69, JIN Cheng (am, CHN) 73-67-69, Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 68-71-70, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 70-66-73.

210 – Jacques BLAAUW (RSA) 70-69-71, Brett MUNSON (USA) 67-72-71, Joost LUITEN (NED) 69-70-71.

211 – Thomas BJORN (DEN) 73-69-69, Arjun ATWAL (IND) 73-69-69, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-71-69, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 72-70-69, Shingo KATAYAMA (JPN) 71-70-70, Berry HENSON (USA) 70-70-71, Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 70-70-71.