Scott Hend of Australia kept pace in his title charge after shooting a three-under-par 69 to take a one-shot lead in the third round of the Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Air Bagan on Saturday. Hend will be on a mission of ending a three-year title drought but will need to overcome the challenge from Thai rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who shot a 69 for a 201 total at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.

Title holder Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan kept his hopes of retaining the title alive when he posted a 67 to share third place with Marcus Both (68) of Australia, a two-time Asian Tour winner and Ben Fox (69) of the United States on 202 in the US$300,000 event.

Chennai will see 80 amateur golfers compete for a place on the TAKE Chennai amateur team that will represent the city alongside India's top professionals in the richest domestic golf event on the PGTI Circuit - the Louis Philippe Cup. The club qualifier to be held at the Madras Gymkana Club on 5th February is the second amateur qualifying event for the TAKE Chennai Team.

The winning amateur golfer from Madras Gymkana Club will be part of the TAKE Chennai amateur team along with V. Manoharan, the winner of the qualifiers held in Coimbatore Golf Club. The amateur team will get a chance to play alongside Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Ghei, the two times European Tour winner SSP Chowrasia and winner of The Global Green Bangalore Open 2011, Sri Lankan golfer Anura Rohana and compete for the Louis Philippe Cup Inter-City Pro-Am title to be held on the 7th and 8th of March, 2012 at the Louis Philippe Cup.

Filipino teenager Miguel Tabuena has shrugged off the heartbreak of missing out on a full Asian Tour card and will be challenging for the ICTSI Philippine Open crown next week. The 17-year-old agonisingly missed out on the last card for 2012 by a mere US$250 at the season-ending Thailand Golf Championship in December but feels the vast experience gained in his rookie year as a professional will help him develop into a top-class player.

"When I found out I missed out on my Tour card I was really pissed but I know that the experience will make me a tougher and more experienced player in the long run. My goal this year is not to put myself in a similar position again!" said Tabuena.

Manav Das continued to stay in the front with a third successive sub-par round of 71 that gave him a five-shot lead with one more round to go in the Bangladesh Open Amateur championships golf at the Kurmitola Golf Club. The Indian amateur, who had rounds of 69 and 68 on first two days is now eight-under 208 for 54 rounds. His teammate Khalin Joshi, winner here at 2011 Championships, moved up to sixth place with a round 72 after 74-74 on first two days.

Also taking the lead after the first round of ladies event was India's Millie Saroha who shot a round of 76, the same as her teammate Anisha Padukone and the two shared the lead. Bangladesh's Zakia Sultana was third with 80.