Porsche AG: Thongchai Jaidee out on his own in the lead

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Thongchai Jaidee out on his own in the lead Thrilling Saturday including a hole-in-one at the Porsche European Open

Bad Griesbach . Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, one of the top Asian players on the European Tour, and the Swede Pelle Edberg will be the last pairing to tee off on the final day of the Porsche European Open. The two will start their rounds at 12.45 on Sunday. After carding an excellent 64 to leave him 13 under for the tournament, Jaidee has now taken a one shot lead. Sharing second place on 12 under are Pelle Edberg and the two Englishmen Ross Fisher and Graeme Storm. Behind them in fifth are the Finn Mikko Ilonen, Sweden’s Magnus A. Carlsson and Jamie Donaldson from Wales (-11). The two Germans Maximilian Kieffer and Bernhard Langer are down the 66-player field on 6 under.

The feared third day of play really did live up to its name of “moving day” – so much so that the leaderboard at the two million dollar event around the Beckenbauer Golf Course has tak-en on a totally different complexion. A round of 63, the best of the Porsche European Open to date, has catapulted Pelle Edberg up amongst the leaders. Jaidee was also well-pleased with his performance after shooting a 64. “Seven under is unusual for me. Normally I’ve been about four under par,” said the delighted Thai. South African Charl Schwartzel, a joint leader going into Saturday’s play, however could only manage a four-over par round (75) to leave him well down the field on six under. An upwards mover was the Ryder Cup winner Peter Hanson. After shooting his best round – a 66 – of the tournament, the Swede is now sitting pretty just behind the leaders on 9 under. Two shots better off in fifth is his Ryder Cup team-mate Jamie Donaldson (-11). In changeable weather, the Welshman carded a 67 to leave him as one of the main contenders on the final day.

The biggest stir of the day which attracted 5,900 spectators was however caused by Lasse Jensen when he aced the second hole – a par 3 – at 9 o’clock in the morning. It was the Dane’s sixth career hole-in-one. His bad luck – on the 17th there is a special prize at stake for an ace, namely a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. The main sponsor nevertheless wanted to recognise the Dane’s exceptional achievement and presented Jensen with a Porsche Bike RX, a Porsche on two wheels. “It’s really nice of Porsche,” said the grateful Jensen who has not given up on his big dream. “I’ve still got one more chance on the 17th,” he continued, “I’ll bag the 911, put the bike in the back and drive home to Copenhagen.”

Bernhard Langer, the best-placed German, is due to tee off on Sunday at 9.48 whilst Maxi-milian Kieffer will get underway just before at 9.39.

The standings after round 3:
1 (-13): Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand); T2 (-12): Pelle Edberg (Sweden), Ross Fisher, Graeme Storm (both England); T5 (-11): Mikko Ilonen (Finland), Magnus A. Carlsson (Sweden), Ja-mie Donaldson (Wales); T8 (-10): Sören Kjeldsen (Sweden), Peter Uihlein (USA).

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911 Carrera Cabriolet: fuel consumption combined 8.5-7.5 l/100 km, urban 11.9-9.9 l/100 km, ex-urban 6.5-6.2 l/100 km;
CO2 emissions 195-172 g/km; efficiency class (Germany) F-D

9/26/2015

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