PRESS RELEASE MARDAN CHASES NEW LEADER COETZEE AT AFRASIA BANK MAURITIUS OPEN Domaine de Bel Ombre, Mauritius, May 9: Veteran Singaporean Mardan Mamat battled to a four-under-par 67 to lie three strokes behind new leader George Coetzee after the third round of the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on Saturday. The four-time Asian Tour winner traded five birdies against a bogey at the Heritage Golf Club to lie in solo fourth position heading into the final day of the €1 million (approximately US$1.1 million) tournament tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Sunshine Tours. South African star Coetzee equaled the course record with a brilliant 65 to surge one shot ahead of countryman Thomas Aiken and overnight leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark who returned a 68 and 70 respectively. Asian Tour regular Carlos Pigem of Spain dropped two late bogeys for a 69 to earn a share of fifth place with amongst others, Australian Nathan Holman, four back of Coetzee, who leads on 11-under-par 202. Power-packed Coetzee, who is ranked 63rd in the world, crafted four birdies on the card and holed out for a stunning eagle from the fairway on the par five seventh hole to charge into contention for a career seventh victory at the magnificent Heritage course. “As I walked off the course, I told my manager I don’t know how I’m shooting under par the way I’m playing, but obviously the course must suit my eye pretty well,” smiled the 28-year-old. “I’m pretty happy with the way things turned out in the end. I don’t know if I’m getting that winning feeling again. With golf, you never know what’s coming tomorrow, but I’ll definitely be giving it my best.” Mardan, 47, snared a long birdie on the opening hole and made further gains on five and seven to turn in 33. He rolled in two more birdies against a dropped shot on 15 on a day when the players faced windy and rainy conditions for much of the day. “I had a pretty good start, birdied from long range from outside the green. From there, I kept the momentum going. It’s a tough first nine and I managed to play it in three under. I was pleased with that,” said Mardan, whose last victory was in the Philippines in November. “Before the start, I told myself to prepare for the bad weather. I clocked it into my head and played it one shot at a time and kept myself dry. The birdie on 18 was a bonus. I played a good shot from out of the (fairway) bunker to about eight feet. I’ve practiced that shot previously and it felt comfortable. It’s not an easy shot but when you practice, you feel confident.” Three behind Coetzee, Mardan is counting on his putter to strike it hot come Sunday. “I like the way I’m striking the ball. Even in the wind, I’m hitting it good. I need to hole some putts. Missed a few today and hopefully I can hole a few more,” he said. The 24-year-old Pigem, who is playing in his third year on the Asian Tour, was disappointed to drop shots on 16 and 17 as he ended the day four back. “We know that 16 and 17 are tough holes. I hit a bad shot on 16 and didn’t get up and down and missed the fairway on 17. A disappointing finish but tomorrow, we’ll try to catch the leader. You need to hit the fairways here as the rough is quite tough and the pins will get tougher every day,” he said. Thai teenager Jazz Janewattananond was amongst a handful who stayed bogey-free, a 68 moving him up to a share of ninth place on 207. “I didn’t make mistakes. Kind of a day where you feel you will play well although I didn’t make too many putts. Playing in the rain was a new experience as we normally get rain and lightning in Asia. It came down pretty hard but I managed to get through it. I was really happy with how I handled that,” said Jazz. Leading third round scores 202: George COETZEE (RSA) 70-67-65 203: Thomas AIKEN (RSA) 69-66-68, Thorbjorn OLESEN (DEN) 65-68-70 205: Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 69-69-67 206: Nathan HOLMAN (AUS) 67-73-66, Andrew MCARTHUR (SCO) 68-70-68, Carlos PIGEM (ESP) 65-72-69, Dean BURMESTER (RSA) 67-68-71 207: Merrick BREMNER (RSA) 71-70-66, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 69-70-68 208: Jake ROOS (RSA) 70-71-67, Madalitso MUTHIYA (ZAM) 67-74-67, Tjaart VAN DER WALT (RSA) 73-66-69, Scott HEND (AUS) 72-66-70 Note to Editors The tournament will be played at the Heritage Golf Cub on Domaine de Bel Ombre, voted one of the Top 10 golf courses in Africa, according to global news broadcaster CNN. The course was designed by Peter Matkovich, who has also presided over the construction of 20 top-ranked golf courses on the continent, such as Arabella Golf Club in South Africa, and Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club in Zimbabwe. This 27-hole facility which includes an 18-hole par-72 championship layout and a nine hole short course, is not only set in the middle of stunning natural scenery and dotted with small lakes and streams, but also possesses exceptional infrastructure and services. For more information on the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open: http://afrasiabankmauritiusopen.com/ About the Asian Tour As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include FENIX Golf (Official Apparel Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Sponsor), Oakley (Official Eyewear and Footwear Sponsor), PRG (Official Accessories Supplier), Srixon (Official Ball), Titleist (Official Web Partner) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.asiantour.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf. Player Quotes – Round 3 (End of Day) Saturday, May 9 Asian Tour Mardan Mamat (Sin) – Third round 67 (-4), Total (-8) Pretty good start on the first hole, birdied from long range outside the green. From there, I kept the momentum going. It’s a tough first nine and I managed to play it in three under. I was pleased with that. Before the start, I told myself to prepare for the bad weather. I clocked it into my head to be prepared and played one shot at a time and kept myself dry. Bonus birdie on 18. Found the rough and wanted to lay up to my distance but it rolled into the bunker. I played a good shot from out of the bunker. I’ve practiced that shot previously and it felt comfortable for me. It’s not an easy shot but when you practice you feel confident. Hit it to about eight feet for birdie. I like the way I’m striking the ball. Even in the wind, I’m hitting it good. It’s not bothered me. I need to hole some putts. Missed a few today and hopefully I can hole a few more. It’s tough to get it out of my head but I think I know how to handle it if get into contention tomorrow. I’ve been there before and just hope to keep my momentum. Just try to hole some putts. I’m going to take a rest and go to the beach now. Carlos Pigem (Esp) – Third Round 69 (-2), Total (-7) I was playing really good, we know that 16 and 17 are tough holes. Hit a bad shot on 16 and didn’t get up and down and missed the fairway on 17. A disappointing finish but tomorrow, we’ll try to catch the leaders. You need to hit the fairways here as the rough is quite tough and the pins will get tougher every day. Tomorrow, my goal will be to hit more fairways. I don’t know if it’s the golf course, it’s an unbelievable place. If you’re in an unbelievable place, you feel good and it’s easier to play better. Today, it felt like I was playing in the British Open as it was windy, rainy and sunny. Only 25 degrees more here. Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Third round 68 (-3), Total (-6) It was good to be bogey-free. I played pretty solid. Didn’t make much mistakes and hit a lot of fairways and greens. Kind of a day where you feel you will play well although I didn’t make too many putts. I couldn’t get really low. Playing in the rain is a new experience as we normally get rain and lightning in Asia. It came down pretty hard but I managed to get through it. I was really happy with how I handled that. I think I’m too far behind the leader. I’m going to think about challenging for the title.