South Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul continued his remarkable run at the Midea China Classic yesterday by taking a two-stroke lead over Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris and compatriot Park Jun-won.
Noh posted a four-under 67 to take the lead on a 14-under 199 total, with Pilkadaris and Park trailing on matching 201s after the third round of the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.
Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang, who started yesterday in tied 23rd place made one of the biggest moves of the day to move into tied fourth on 202. The three-time Asian Tour winner shares fourth spot with fellow Taiwanese Lu Wei-chih and S. Siva Chandhran of Malaysia.
It was the perfect showcase of experience versus youth when the 34-year-old Pilkadaris took on 17-year-old Noh and 22-year-old Park.
The lead changed hands between Pilkadarsis and Noh until Noh sank two birdies in the 16th and 18th at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club.
“Terry [Pilkadarsis] got off to a good start with an opening eagle. But I did not let that distract me in any way. I continued to play my own game, which was to attack the pins and not make any bogeys,” said Noh, who would have had a blemish-free round had he not dropped a shot on the 17th.
“I’ve been in the leader group only to falter at the last hurdle before. But this time, I believe I’ve matured and I’m ready to handle the pressure at the final round,” Noh said.
Pilkadaris, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, hopes his experience will give him that added advantage in today’s final round.
“Playing in the same flight with the young Koreans was a big challenge. The boys were playing so much like seasoned veterans,” Pilkadaris said. “However, I hope to draw on all my winning experience to move back into contention tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Lin went on a birdie blitz.
Apart from a bogey on the fifth, he recorded eight birdies to keep himself in contention for his fourth Asian Tour title.
“I hope to continue doing what I’ve been doing the whole week and hopefully add a fourth Asian Tour win to my record,” Lin said.
Home favorite Liang Wenchong posted his best score of 67 to finish in tied 13th, five shots off the lead.
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