Watching his cousin brother Aidric Chan win two Asian Development Tour titles this year has been inspirational for Carl Jano Corpus, and the Filipino youngster served notice of his own immense potential by sensationally grabbing a share of the lead on day three of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Al Maaden Golf Resorts.

The San Jose State University star, who turned professional earlier this year and turns 24 next month, shot a sparkling round of 10-under par 62 at the Kyle Phillips-designed golf course on Saturday. Corpus made a bogey during the round, but more than made up for that solitary mistake with one eagle and nine birdies.

At 18-under par aggregate, Corpus was joined at the top of the leaderboard by overnight co-leader Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, who shot a bogey-free 65.

Australia’s Darcy Brereton (64), Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (66) and American Ryoto Furuya (66) were tied for third place at 16-under, two shots behind the leaders.

Settee Prakongvech of Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I didn’t really try anything different today,” said Corpus, who completed the front nine in 29. “Since I was in college, we’ve been focusing on our routines, just focusing on the target. I didn’t think about anything else but to give myself a good opportunity to score. That’s what I did the whole day. And I holed a lot of putts today. The hole looked pretty big to me today, and I could see the breaks.”

The sole bogey on the 11th was more of a mental mistake, where after hitting his drive left, Corpus said he was hoping to get a free relief, but did not get it.

“I just told myself that I was playing well and would not have been seven-under if not for that. I went to the next hole trying to make a birdie again and managed to do just that – holing a 20-footer on the tough par-3,” Corpus added.

Chan, winner of last week’s Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Samanah Golf Club and Lexus Challenge in Vietnam in March, is the son of his maternal aunt and the two have virtually grown up together. They lived in the same compound in Manila, had the same coach and even went to the same school. For more than a decade and half, they have been trying to beat each other.

“When I saw Aidrich win Lexus, coming from behind as well, it was so inspiring for me because I have seen him work and put in the effort. That made me check out the small things that I could do to get to get better every single day.

One of those things that I saw with Adrich was his chipping…it was tremendous. It wasn’t like that last year. And then he really put in the hard work, and that inspired me to put in the work as well. I worked especially on my putting, and it was good to see some of that pay off today.”

Settee, looking for his second win on the ADT, made three birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

“It was another good day. Like yesterday, my irons and putter were working well again,” said the 30-year-old from Chonburi.

The champion this week will almost be assured to get one of two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6.

The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations. Chan, winner last week, leads that list, and will be joined by Corpus, if he can pull it off on Sunday.