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Immelman, Harrington creeping up on Lafeber

Wearing designer sunglasses, Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden tees off on the third day of the BMW Asian Open, yesterday in Taoyuan, Taiwan. PHOTO: AP

Maarten Lafeber carded a lackluster one-under-par 71 but still finished the third round of the Asian Open one stroke clear of the field yesterday.

The Dutchman ended the round at 13 under par ahead of Ireland's Padraig Harrington and South African Trevor Immelman, who are joint second in the co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour event.

Lafeber, chasing his first European Tour victory, recorded three birdies and two bogeys as he kept himself in a winning position for the third time in recent weeks.

Last month, the 28-year-old shared the lead heading into the final round of the Lancome Trophy in Paris but eventually stumbled with a last round 74 to finish tied 13th.

The former Dutch, Spanish and Swiss amateur champion, was again in contention a week later in the Madrid Open, sharing the halfway lead before ending 13th again.

"I am happy to still be in the lead and in a good position for tomorrow which was my goal," said Lafeber.

"I have been in contention in Madrid and Paris recently and a lot of times I have been close to the leaders and you feel it's your time but you can't force it.

"Trevor hasn't won before and he's dying to win, and Padraig is top 10 in the world and he's won before.

"It is going to be a difficult day and all I can do is give it 100 percent and battle hard. If it's enough, it's enough. If not, I'll come back another time."

Harrington hit a four-under-par 68 but squandered the opportunity to end the round tied with Lafeber after missing a six-foot birdie putt at the last.

ThAe world number eight birdied six holes and bogeyed two, including the par-four fourth where he found a water hazard off the tee with his drive.

"It can be to your advantage when you have to do a bit of scrambling because you tend to make a few more birdies that way," he said.

Immelman, 22, who recorded three second-place finishes on the last European Tour, birdied four of his opening seven holes in his round of 68.
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