China's top player, Liang Wen-chong, inched a step closer to a maiden European Tour victory yesterday by taking a share of the third round lead at the Singapore Masters.
Liang, who is aiming to become only the second Chinese player ever to win a European Tour event after Zhang Liang-wei took the title in Singapore in 2003, is at 12-under-par alongside England's Gary Lockerbie.
Second round leader Jyoti Randhawa of India, who has won six Asian Tour titles, struck a par 72 to be a stroke further back on 11 under while Malaysia's Iain Steel and Ireland's Peter Lawrie were two off the pace.
PHOTO: EPA
Thai hero Thongchai Jaidee lurks a shot behind them while England's Nick Dougherty, who won the event in 2005 and was runner-up last year, made a late charge up the leaderboard with a 66 to remain in the hunt.
three eagles
After a bogey on the first hole, Liang, 29, sank three eagles and four birdies, including a crucial 20-foot putt on the 18th, to claw his way back into contention and set up an intriguing final round.
He said he was not going to put himself under pressure but instead would just enjoy himself today.
"I'm really happy. I played the Masters Course in this tournament [for the] first time on Friday where I putted really well. I'm glad that it was the same today," said Liang, who has taken over the mantle as China's top talent from Zhang.
"My main goal was to be in the final grouping. That was what I was gunning for and I'm happy that I did it. As for Sunday, all I want to do is to just enjoy the atmosphere out on course," he said.
"I've been in this position before in the Philippines going in the final group and I'm going to take it easy now, not pressure myself, and see what the outcome is," Liang said.
Lockerbie, who only turned professional in 2005, has never finished higher than fifth on the European Tour (at the Malaysian Open earlier this year).
He failed to hold the outright lead overnight after dropping a shot on his final hole.
"I would definitely have taken being tied for the lead after today. I would have taken 69 as well so I am just going to forget about what happened at the last," the 24-year-old said. "I think the birdie down the 17th was a bit of a bonus anyway so that is what happens."
steady
"As for Sunday, I will just try to get off to a steady start, not try to do anything fancy because I don't think it is going to be a really low score which wins," he said. "If I can knock it round in three or four under I'm not going to be far away."
Randhawa, who has missed four cuts this year, fired four birdies against an equal number of bogeys and said the wind caused him problems.
"The wind was stronger and it wouldn't let up," he said.
"It was also very gusty and on a few shots I thought the wind would pop up and it didn't and my ball went over the green so you have to be careful out there," he said.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at