Gregory Bourdy took command of the Hong Kong Open after the third round yesterday, shooting a seven-under-par 63 to lead by two shots from Robert-Jan Derksen.
Bourdy’s bogey-free round was the equal-best of the day alongside two-time champion Miguel Angel Jimenez as the Frenchman burst from a pack of four players who started the day on nine-under to take the lead.
In doing so Bourdy took a step closer to qualifying for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The 27-year-old needs a win in Hong Kong to move up from his current position of 83rd on the Race to Dubai standings and into the top 60 places that qualify for the Dubai tournament.
Dutchman Derksen sits on his own in second place on 14 under par after his round of 65, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is in third place, a further three shots off the lead on 11 under par.
McIlroy, who finished in the runners-up position at Fanling last year, has opened up a significant gap over his Race to Dubai rival Lee Westwood, who finished the third round five under par.
However, McIlroy said he remained focused on the task at hand this week and was aiming for a fast start to the final day’s play to try and put pressure on the leaders.
“I’m just worried about the tournament,” McIlroy said of his duel with Westwood. “I’m five shots behind Gregory Bourdy and that’s all I’m worried about.”
Westwood leads the European Tour’s money list from McIlroy by 52,320 euros (US$78,000) with only the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship remaining in the season.
Jimenez hauled himself into contention with the joint-best round of the day, matching Bourdy’s 63 to move to 10-under par.
Despite starting with a bogey at the first, 2004 and 2007 champ Jimenez put together a string of four consecutive birdies on the front nine before another four birdies on the return — including at the 18th — catapulted him up the leaderboard.
Jimenez is joined on 10-under par by Irishman Peter Lawrie, France’s Francesco Molinari and last year’s winner, Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan, who fired a 67 yesterday.
Bourdy’s performance on Saturday was his best of the tournament so far, following up rounds of 64 on Thursday and Friday’s 67 with a flawless performance on the penultimate day.
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