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The Australian trailed overnight leader
Phachara by a shot after Friday's play but hit six birdies
around the composite course to pull level with 18 holes
remaining.
The pair will be looking to join a winners list that includes
former major champions Rory McIlroy, Greg Norman and Justin Rose
when the tournament, being played for the first in four years
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concludes on Sunday.
In overcast and breezy conditions, the 2022 British Open winner
made a steady start to his day, picking up a single shot in his
first seven holes.
But back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth ignited his
round and he looked set to dominate.
Smith drained a 30-foot putt at the 15th to go into sole
possession of the lead but at the next dragged his tee-shot into
the trees and, after only just managing to play his second out
of the bushes, the Australian escaped with a bogey.
Phachara's birdie at the same hole saw the lead change hands
between the playing partners, but Smith responded by rolling in
a birdie putt from eight feet at the 17th to quickly make up for
his error and pull level with the Thai.
Twelve players lie within five shots of the lead duo, including
former U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, with the Northern
Irishman on 12-under, four strokes adrift.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Robert Birsel)
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