Hua Hin - Australia's big-hitting Scott Hend will head into the final day of the True Thailand Classic with a two-shot lead after pushing ahead of the pack Saturday.
He carded two-under par 70 in windy conditions on the Black Mountain Golf Club in seaside Hua Hin.
American golfer Peter Uihlein jostled with Hend for the top of the leaderboard after three birdies in the morning, but fell back later in the day with a bogey, finishing in second at 12-under 204 for the three rounds.
A victory Sunday will be Hend's second European tour title.
"I knew it was going to be a tough day, very windy, so I'm very pleased," Hend said according to a report from the tour organisers.
Day two frontrunner Pelle Edberg dropped back to third Saturday, after five bogeys saw him card one-over 73 for the round.
The Swede is sharing third place with Belgium's Thomas Pieters, who sailed through the tough conditions with the strongest showing of the day, carding a bogey-free six-under 66.
Local hopeful 23-year-old Panuphol Pittayarat meanwhile struggled in the afternoon with four bogeys and fell back from second to end the day tied for fifth.
Leading third-round scores from the True Thailand Classic at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin on Saturday:
202 - Scott Hend (AUS)
204 - Peter Uihlein (USA)
205 - Thomas Pieters (BEL); Pelle Edberg (SWE)
206 - Benjamin Hebert (FRA); David Lipsky (USA); Shaun Norris (RSA)
207 - Prom Meesawat (THA); Panuphol Pittayarat (THA); Simon Yates (SCO)
208 - Rikard Karlberg (SWE); Thongchai Jaidee (THA); Joost Luiten (NED); Marc Warren (SCO); Piya Swangarunporn (THA)