Veteran defending champion Lu Wen-teh took a big step toward a record fourth Taiwan Masters title with a solid three-under 69 that left him one shot clear yesterday.
Lu, 45, nailed five birdies against two bogeys for a 10-under 206 total to grab the third-round lead over Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant, who recorded a 67 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
American-based Anthony Kang shot the lowest round of the day after a 66 pushed him up to third place.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat remained in contention after a 72 to lie in joint fourth alongside Myanmar’s Zaw Moe, who carded a 70, and Taiwanese overnight leader Lin Wen-hong, who stumbled to a 78.
“I did not have a very good round today, but it was enough to get on top. I made the birdies where it mattered and kept it in play,” said Lu, who won way back in 1994 and 1996 before his success last year. “It’s going to be exciting as I will be playing with my friend Thaworn tomorrow.”
“But out on course, it’s down to business as we will both be gunning for the title,” Lu said.
Former Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn enjoyed a bogey-free round with five birdies at the Tamsui Course.
“I am very happy with my score. But this is the home course for Lu and he will be backed by the local fans, so I know it’s going to be tough tomorrow,” Thaworn said.
ANFIELD BLUES: Kylian Mbappe arrived at Anfield on a run of 21 goals in 17 games, but he managed just three attempts in the match, none of them hitting the target Kylian Mbappe has been nearly unstoppable this season, but he hit a roadblock in their UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Tuesday. For the second year running, the Real Madrid forward had a night to forget at Merseyside as Liverpool won 1-0. Mbappe looked a shadow of the player who has been tearing defenses apart all season. “We were lacking that threat in the final third,” said Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, without naming Mbappe individually. The FIFA World Cup winner for France rarely looked capable of finding a breakthrough against a Liverpool team who have been so defensively fragile for much of the
Jemimah Rodrigues on Thursday hit an unbeaten 127 as India pulled off a record chase of 339 against Australia to set up a Women’s World Cup final against South Africa. Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hit 89, put on 167 runs for the third wicket as India won with nine balls and five wickets to spare at DY Patil Stadium, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The hosts finished on a total of 341-5 in reply to Australia’s impressive 338 and ensured there would be a new name on the 50-over trophy tomorrow. Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary to trigger wild celebrations
Jannik Sinner on Thursday eased past Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 at the Paris Masters to set up a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev earned a straight-sets win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. A maiden crown in the French capital would return Sinner to No. 1 in the world rankings after current incumbent Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock early exit at the hands of Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The Italian four-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set in the tournament as he hones in on what would be a fifth title of the
LOCAL SUCCESS: In the doubles, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia defeated Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in straight sets Elena Rybakina on Monday punched her ticket to the WTA Finals last four with an impressive 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over second seed Iga Swiatek in round-robin play in Riyadh. After cruising past Amanda Anisimova in her opener on Saturday, Rybakina claimed her second win of the week to guarantee herself top spot in the Serena Williams Group. Anisimova on Monday rallied back from a set and a break down to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in her all-American battle with seventh seed Madison Keys, who has been eliminated from the competition. “Madi was playing so well, it was quite a battle out there,”
RSS