Branden Grace of South Africa takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the China Open after he shot an eight-under 64 at the Binhai Lake Golf Club near Beijing yesterday.
The 23-year-old South African moved to 18-under, three clear of defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.
Grace had started the third round one shot off the lead, but picked up four shots in three holes, sinking a 15 foot eagle putt on the sixth green.
On a day of light winds and low scoring, Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay also shot a 64 to move to 14-under, four strokes back, while Alexander Noren of Sweden had a 63 to join four other players on 13-under.
Grace is looking for his third victory on the European Tour this year having already won the Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions tournaments in South Africa in January.
Colsaerts, the defending champion, started slowly, but four birdies in the back nine allowed him to sign for six-under 66.
The other overnight leader, Gary Boyd of England, started his third round by dropping two shots in three holes and a 71 put him six shots adrift of Grace.
INDONESIAN MASTERS
AFP, JAKARTA
Lee Westwood’s charge in the third round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters came to a halt yesterday with play abandoned due to lightening storms.
The world No. 3, who was five shots clear after the first two rounds, birdied the first and fourth holes to move to 13-under before play was suspended at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
The Englishman, who is defending his title at the course, will return early this morning to complete his round.
Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih resumed his second round from the 15th hole and finished at one-under 71 before going back out for his third round, in which he was at one-over at the 11th when play stopped again. He sits at even par on the tournament.
Chiang Chen-chih sits two strokes back of compatriot Lu, while Lin Wen-tang and Hsu Mong-nan are at three-over.
Additional reporting by Ted Chang
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