Chonlada Chayanun fired a 9-under 63 to snatch the lead at 12-under par heading into the final-round of the BGC Thailand Ladies Masters, a Taiwan LPGA Tour and Thai LPGA Tour co-sanctioned event.

Overnight leader and current Thai LPGA Tour money leader Patcharajutar Kongkraphan is closely behind at 11-under in the season-ending THB$4 million (NT$3.36 million) tournament. But Chayanun still has the chance to earn the Money Winner honor by winning here at the Black Mountain in Hua Hin. Meanwhile, it’s the tenth leg of the TLPGA Tour, and the third oversea pitstop in 2022.

16 TLPGA members joined the 120-player field, and 7 of them made the cut today, with Wang Li-Ning (王莉甯) holding the lowest score among Taiwanese players at 3-under par, which put her in a tie for 24th.

A total of 52 players who were at a 36-hole total of even-par 144 or better won the ticket into the final-round.

Wang, who averages a driving distance of more than 270 yards, couldn’t quite capitalize on this advantage today, making two birdies and two bogeys to stay on 3-under. “My short game was not quite there,” said Wang. “Needed 30 putts. The greens are pretty different from those in Taiwan. They are really fast and that cost me some extra time to make better decisions.”

Wang won her maiden title on the home tour at the YTS & SUNCITY Heritage Tour less than a month ago. “Yeah, it’s been a pretty good few weeks. I worked on some tiny changes in my swing motion, which really adds some consistency especially to my drivers. With more control from the tee, I feel like I can focus more on the attack as well with my second shots,” Wang said.

Lynn Chiu (邱齡緹) went bogey-birdie-bogey on the first three holes in the second round today. She missed a 13-foot eagle opportunity on the second hole, but she secured at least the lone birdie on the front nine. She settled into steadier rhythm after and completed the round in red figure with a pair of birdies on 14th and 15th.

“There was a rain in the morning, giving a little more unpredictability to the already difficult greens. But I’m happy my putter held up well, saving a few important shots to help me stay in it,” said Chiu, who needed 29 putts.

Rookie pro Chang Ya-Chun (張雅淳) pulled herself out of bogey disappointments on the 2nd and 3rd hole with a hard-earned, down-hill, 9-foot birdie on the 4th to start showing promise of a potential move-up. However, Chang wasted a number of 4 and 5-foot scoring chances and only settled with a second-round 73. Fortunately, she survived the cut by one shot.

“The standards were high this week, with the cut line being as good as an even-par, which definitely put extra pressure on me to play well, but I couldn’t really get my putting going. So, yeah, it was a little tough out there, even though I felt like I was hitting okay,” said Chang. She used a total of 32 putts.

Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎) also escaped the elimination after a late turbulence. Her back nine saw three bogeys, one double-bogey on the par-4 17th, and just one birdie, before she finished the round with a 76. With a Wednesday 5-under 67, Chang still moves into the final-round at 1-under 143.

Kiwi-Taiwanese Juliana Hung (洪玉霖) carded a 71 today to prevail as well with a 143. Wu Yi-Ching (伍以晴) and Lee Tai-Ling (李黛翎) scraped through the cut at 144.

This 54-hole tournament is recognized by the WWGR (World Women’s Golf Rankings). Being the final tournament on the 2022 Thai LPGA Tour, the BGC Ladies Masters offers a season-high THB$4 million (NT$3.36 million) purse. The winner will take away a THB$600,000 (NT$504,000) cash prize.

Layout this week and the Black Mountain Golf Club is set at 6,276 yards. Thursday’s green speed is measured at 10.0.

Final-round competition will start at 7:00 a.m. in the morning. The final group will be sent off at 10:15.