Higa stays within striking distance

Japanese golfer Kazuki Higa shot a four-under-par 68 in the third round to slip to tied fifth position and remain on the fringe of contention for his maiden DP World Tour title on Friday.

The 27-year-old Higa will head into the final day on 14-under 202, four adrift of Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen, who fired a 64 to seize the penultimate stage lead at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi.

Higa registered six birdies and two bogeys in his scorecard.

The JGTO prize money king was three-under after five holes after birdieing the first, third and fifth holes before a bogey on the eighth halted his good run.

Higa bounced back with birdies on the 10th, 12th and 15th but would drop his second stroke at the last.

"I managed to pick up where I left off on the second day and got off to a good start," said Higa.

"However, I failed to make some of the chances count and dropped two bogeys. That's quite disappointing.

"It's only my fifth DP World Tour appearance, but I'm really enjoying the challenge here. There are so many good players, the competition is fiercely contested.

"So I have to stay focused each day. At four shots back, there's still everything to play for.

"I intend to go aggressive on the front-nine and see how it goes. Ideally, I hope to shoot a five-under before making the turn."

The other Japanese in fray, Takumi Kanaya dropped four spots to a share of 33rd on seven-under 209 after he could only muster a 70.

Kanaya, who won the International Series Oman winner last week, mixed four birdies with two bogeys to end the day 11 shots off the pace.