Juvic Pagunsan birdied three of the last four holes to card a 3-under 68 Saturday and climb to joint second in the Queen Sirikit Cup in Thailand.
Even par up to the 14th, the Filipino ace birdied the 15th and then closed out birdie-birdie to catch up with halfway mark leader Thawom Wiratchant, who settled for a 70, and stay one shot behind new pacesetter Nicholas Fung of Malaysia.
Playing steadily, Fung also tallied 68 for an 11-under 202 total in the $500,000 event being held at Suntiburi Samui Country Club.
With earlier rounds of 68-67, Pagunsan was at 203 with Wiratchant, winner of the 2014 edition and still in top form at 50 years old.
Also in strong contention for the crown, just two shots off Fung, are Filipino Angelo Que and three others.
Que fired a 69 to pool a 204, the same totals posted by Thai Jazz Jane Wattanond, who shot a day best 65, Malaysian Danny Chia (67) and Hung Chien-Yao (67). —ROY LUARCA