Francesco Molinari bagged a breathtaking eagle to maintain a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Lee Westwood and leave the HSBC Champions tournament on a knife-edge heading into today’s final round.
Molinari brought gasps from the gallery by holing out from 150 yards off the par-four 13th fairway, before finishing the day at 14-under after three rounds.
“There was a little mound in front of the hole and I couldn’t really see, but then the crowd was quite loud, so it went in and I had just bogeyed the 12th. So it was a really good moment,” Molinari said.
England’s Luke Donald is in third place on 10-under, with countryman Ross Fisher and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay tied for fourth on eight-under, along with South Africa’s Ernie Els.
Westwood finished on 13-under despite missing an earlier birdie to draw level — and an aggressive drive across the water on 18 — as the 37-year-old tried to claw back his Ryder Cup teammate’s slender advantage.
“I think we both played pretty well. It will be a nice day tomorrow, a good three-ball — myself, Luke and Francesco,” Westwood said.
The Englishman has maintained his steady form in his first tournament since toppling Tiger Woods from top spot in the world rankings, carding five birdies in a flawless round.
He is on course to stay at the summit as closest rivals Woods, third-ranked Martin Kaymer and fourth-ranked Phil Mickelson failed to mount a significant challenge in China.
A victory for any of the chasing trio at the tough Sheshan course would see them leapfrog Westwood into top spot in the rankings.
Westwood, however, said he was focused entirely on his own performance.
“When I play a golf tournament, I look at the leaderboard, but I don’t see any other names. I see my name and the scores, and right now I’m one behind the leader, which won’t win the golf tournament tomorrow afternoon,” he said.
MIZUNO CLASSIC
AP, SHIMA, JAPAN
South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai shot a six-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis of the US after yesterday’s second round of the LPGA Mizuno Classic.
Shin carded six birdies in a bogey-free round at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club for a 36-hole total of 13-under 131.
Shin, who is No. 1 in the LPGA rankings, won in Shima in 2008 and put herself in position to win her second tournament of the year.
Lewis had the day’s lowest round of 64 to finish two strokes back at 11-under. Taiwan’s Yani Tseng shot a 65 and was tied for third with Japan’s Miki Saiki (67).
Taiwan’s Amy Hung fired a 68 to sit eight strokes behind the leader on five-under, compatriot Candie Kung carded a 72 for a three-under total, while Teresa Lu’s 71 placed her a shot further back.
Shin, who held an overnight share of the lead with Japan’s Yukari Baba, took the lead with a birdie on the par-five 16th and added another on the par-four 18th.
Lewis birdied four of the last six holes and had looked set to take the lead, before Shin’s strong finish.
Morgan Pressel of the US shot a 69 to be in fifth at eight-under 136.
Japanese star Ai Miyazato struggled with her game for a second day in a row with a 79 that knocked her out of contention.
Miyazato, who has five wins this season, came into the tournament vying to become the first player from Japan to capture Player of the Year honor since Ayako Okamoto in 1987. She currently sits second in the race, two points behind Tseng.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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