Maybank Championship Malaysia 2016: Saturday Leaderboard Scores and Highlights

Soomin Lee carded an emphatic seven-under-par round of 64 to surge to the top of the Maybank Championship Malaysia leaderboard on Saturday.

The South Korean chalked up nine birdies and two bogies on his way to the joint-lowest round of the day, and he now sits three shots clear of the chasing pack at 15 under.

Overnight leader Nathan Holman is four shots back on 11 under, while fellow Aussie Marcus Fraser sits in second place at 12 under. Here’s a look at the top 10 in Kuala Lumpur after a very entertaining moving day.

Pos.	Player	To Par	Round 3
1	Soomin Lee	-15	64
2	Marcus Fraser	-12	66
3	Nathan Holman	-11	73
T4	Jorge Campillo	-10	69
T4	Masahiro Kawamura	-10	67
T4	Miguel Tabuena	-10	69
T7	Mikko Ilonen	-9	64
T7	Richard Bland	-9	73
T7	Pablo Larrazabal	-9	65
T7	Stephen Gallacher	-9	66
T7	Julien Quense	-9	65

Lee Turns on the Style

Stanley Chou/Getty Images

Lee started the day on eight under par, five shots adrift of Holman at the top of the leaderboard, but he didn’t take long to get his round going—carding a simple birdie four at the par-five third.

He continued the red-number assault at the fifth with another birdie, only to drop a shot on the very next hole.

A third birdie of the day on the eighth hole left Lee in a good position heading into the back nine, where he really turned on the style.

Birdies on 10 and 11 put Lee 12 under and top of the leaderboard, before a stunning approach at the 202-yard par-three 12th gave him the chance to go 13 deep. European Tour captured the shot:

Lee duly dispatched the putt to move five under for the day, but he wasn’t done there.

The South Korean produced more birdies on 13, 15 and 17 to extend his lead at the top of the tree, although a dropped shot on the 16th prevented him from pushing further clear.

Still, the damage was done, and Lee cut a very satisfied figure at the close of play—via European Tour:

Fraser is Lee’s nearest challenger heading into Sunday’s round after he also put together an impressive third day.

The Australian carded five birdies without a single bogey to charge up into second place, with his short game once again proving irresistible—never more so than on the par-three seventh, via ET:

Fraser has only let two bogeys slip all week, and he’ll have to produce similar solidity if he’s to catch Lee on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Holman had a day to forget in Kuala Lumpur, as an ugly triple-bogey seven on the finishing hole saw him close out Saturday two over par.

The overnight leader found birdies on 15, 16 and 17 in the run-up to his final-hole catastrophe, and although Holman now finds himself four shots adrift of Lee, he’s still very much in the tournament.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen joined Lee in the 64 club, as eight birdies and one bogey propelled him 32 places up the leaderboard and into a tie for seventh.

However, Saturday was all about Lee, whose ball striking and course management were nothing short of exemplary.

Following his round, the 22-year-old told European Tour that while he’s nervous heading into the final round, his game is in good shape:

"

I feel a little bit nervous thinking about the final round but I will try my best. This weekend will be very good for my golf life. It was very exciting. I had a good feeling this week because I like playing on this course. I hit many important iron shots today. I tried to putt close to the hole but it went in so I gained some confidence on the greens. I'm trying to enjoy my game and focus on my own game. If I keep my ball on the fairway then it will be good for me to try and score.

"

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Sunday will be a battle of wits for Lee. If he can overcome the pressure of the spotlight and continue to play excellent golf, then a first-ever title beckons.

However, with Fraser, Holman and a talented chasing pack ready to pounce upon any slip-up from the leader, it’s safe to say the Maybank Championship is still very much up for grabs.