A third round 67 gave Alvaro Quiros a one shot lead over Peter Hanson at the UBS Hong Kong Open. Quiros, who on both previous days had shared the lead with Rory McIlroy, carded three birdies in a bogey-free effort which took him to ten under par.
World Number Two McIlroy, however, had to fight back from consecutive bogeys on the front nine to sign for a level par 70, leaving the 22 year old in fifth place and in danger of missing out on the top-two finish he needs to stand a chance of catching Luke Donald in The Race to Dubai.
Ryder Cup star Hanson signed for joint-best-of-the-day 65 to charge firmly into contention, while his score was matched by former US PGA Championship winner Y E Yang, who shares third place with Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul (67).
“I hit the ball great from the tee and to the green,” said five time European Tour winner Quiros. “But the putting was very, very poor.”
“Obviously my length is always an advantage. If I’m able to hit the fairway on the second hole, I have great chances to make a good birdie, an easy birdie, when the others probably are struggling a little bit with the tee shot and then with the second shot.”
McIlroy started in solid fashion but, after missing a birdie chance on the third, found sand at the par three fourth and his par putt from ten feet grazed the edge of the hole. Worse was to follow as his drive at the fifth ended behind a tree and, after chipping onto the fairway, his third shot missed the green.
However, he managed to get up and down to limit the damage to a bogey and drop to five under par. McIlroy then steadied the ship with a string of pars before collecting his first birdie of the day at the 13th. He also drained a mid-range putt for another at the 17th as he fought back to post a 70 and remain in the hunt. “I just didn’t have anything out there,” said the US Open Champion. “Mentally I just wasn’t at the races, and struggled to get anything going.
“It was one of those days where nothing much was happening, and it was nice to birdie a couple coming in to keep me in it. I’m only three behind, so if I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, I’m right back in it.”
Ryder Cup teammate Hanson moved into second place after a fine 65 which included one bogey and six birdies. “It was nice,” Hanson said. “To sum it up, it was very good putting. “I had a bit of a slow start making a bogey on the second but from there it was very solid and there were a couple of good bunker shots that saved some pars through the middle part of the round.” Yang, who also mixed birdies with a solitary bogey, added: “I’m in a good position, better than being ahead in the first or second round.
“One more day to focus, 18 holes to play. I think my chances are fairly good. There was minimal wind today, so that helped a lot, and my irons and my putter were playing as I’ve always wanted them today.” Yang shares third with Junhasavasdikul on eight under after the Thai youngster overcame a terrible start that saw him bogey the first and double bogey the second with six subsequent birdies.
“I kept telling myself ‘Okay, the round is not over, you made it through to the weekend after playing really bad the last couple of months,” Junhasavasdikul said. “Just go out there and enjoy it, just one shot at a time and try to make something happen.” England’s first round co-leader David Horsey is in the group at five under par following a 69, while defending champion Ian Poulter is six shots off the lead after a 67.
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About the UBS Hong Kong Open
The Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event. Beginning in 1959, the Hong Kong Open has a rich history of winners including nine different Major Champions who have amassed 25 Major titles between them. UBS, the diversified global financial services company, has been title sponsor of the event since 2005 during which time it has overseen a substantial rise in the tournament’s prize money. Under the stewardship of UBS, the total prize fund has increased every year from US$1.2 million in the 2006 season to the US$2.75 million figure which was on offer at the Fanling venue in December.
The UBS Hong Kong Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.
About the Mega Events Fund
This year, the UBS Hong Kong Open is supported by the Mega Events Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support more mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
About UBS
UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. We combine our wealth management, investment banking and asset management businesses with our Swiss operations to deliver superior financial solutions.
UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in over 50 countries, with about 37% of its employees working in the Americas, 37% in Switzerland, 16% in the rest of Europe and 10% in Asia Pacific. UBS employs about 66,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Released on behalf of UBS Hong Kong Open 2011
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