Grace on course for his third title
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2012, Sunday
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SOUTH African Branden Grace burst into contention for his third title of a dream debut season on the European Tour with a sparkling third-round 8-under-par 64 at the US$3 million China Open yesterday.
Grace was one of six players to hold the lead on a hectic day at Tianjin's Binhai Lake Golf Club and the 23-year-old finished the day with a three-stroke lead at 18-under 198 in the event co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour.
Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts was second after the Belgian carded a 66 while Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was third a further shot back on 14-under after a 64.
After coming through qualifying school, Grace won back-to-back titles on home soil and is in prime position to win in China thanks to some solid putting.
"This year the putting has really been outstanding and I'm making a lot more putts," he said. "I'm really positive at this stage and getting those first two wins under my belt is great, I just want to really push on from here."
Grace chipped to within a foot at the second hole and holed a putt from the fringe at the fifth for early birdies before hitting the front with a 20-foot eagle putt at the sixth.
He three-putted the 14th for his only bogey but more than made up for it by sinking three birdies in the final four holes to race ahead.
The other overnight leader, Gary Boyd of England, started his third round by dropping two shots in three holes and a 71 put him six shots adrift of Grace.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood's charge in the third round of the Indonesian Masters came to a halt as play was abandoned due to adverse weather yesterday.
The world No. 3 birdied the first and fourth holes to move to 13-under before play was suspended due to lightning threats at 1.08pm. Play was subsequently called off for the day at 5pm as weather conditions did not improve at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Defending champion Westwood, who finished third at the Masters two weeks ago, will be among 69 players who will return at 6.45am today to complete their rounds. The fourth and final round will start at 9.30am.
Zaw Moe of Myanmar was the Briton's closest challenger as he lies on 9 under through four holes at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event.
Lee Sung of South Korea played through five holes and was 7 under with Shiv Kapur of India and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, who both completed four holes before play was stopped.
Grace was one of six players to hold the lead on a hectic day at Tianjin's Binhai Lake Golf Club and the 23-year-old finished the day with a three-stroke lead at 18-under 198 in the event co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour.
Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts was second after the Belgian carded a 66 while Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was third a further shot back on 14-under after a 64.
After coming through qualifying school, Grace won back-to-back titles on home soil and is in prime position to win in China thanks to some solid putting.
"This year the putting has really been outstanding and I'm making a lot more putts," he said. "I'm really positive at this stage and getting those first two wins under my belt is great, I just want to really push on from here."
Grace chipped to within a foot at the second hole and holed a putt from the fringe at the fifth for early birdies before hitting the front with a 20-foot eagle putt at the sixth.
He three-putted the 14th for his only bogey but more than made up for it by sinking three birdies in the final four holes to race ahead.
The other overnight leader, Gary Boyd of England, started his third round by dropping two shots in three holes and a 71 put him six shots adrift of Grace.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood's charge in the third round of the Indonesian Masters came to a halt as play was abandoned due to adverse weather yesterday.
The world No. 3 birdied the first and fourth holes to move to 13-under before play was suspended due to lightning threats at 1.08pm. Play was subsequently called off for the day at 5pm as weather conditions did not improve at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Defending champion Westwood, who finished third at the Masters two weeks ago, will be among 69 players who will return at 6.45am today to complete their rounds. The fourth and final round will start at 9.30am.
Zaw Moe of Myanmar was the Briton's closest challenger as he lies on 9 under through four holes at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event.
Lee Sung of South Korea played through five holes and was 7 under with Shiv Kapur of India and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, who both completed four holes before play was stopped.
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