Bourdy's 63 puts him two ahead with a

round to go in UBS Hong Kong Open

FROM THE ASIAN TOUR WEBSITE
France’s Gregory Bourdy matched the day’s lowest score of seven-under-par 63 - posted earlier in the day by former title winner and Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain - to move into the final round of the UBS Hong Kong Open with a two-shot cushion.
The two-time European Tour winner’s three-day total of 16-under-par 194 sees him atop the leaderboard while Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands posted a 65 to lie closely in the wait in second place on 196.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy made his move by signing for a 65, which included a double bogey, to take third place on 199 while defending champion, Lin Wen-tang is among the four players bunched in tied-fourth on 200.
Bourdy ended the day in the same position from where he started. A place at the top was never in doubt after the Frenchman returned with an unblemished card that was highlighted by seven birdies.
“It was a fantastic round with seven birdies and no bogeys. I feel good on this course. I feel good in Hong Kong and I am enjoying the week. I’ll try and keep the putter warm for tomorrow as it was unbelievable today,” said Bourdy.
While many have known to self-destruct on the final day, Bourdy believes that he is capable of maintaining his composure and stay focus for the final task ahead.
“I rather be two shots ahead than two behind and I know from that position and playing under par I’ll have a good chance to win,” added Bourdy.
Derksen, seeking his first win since 2005, registered six birdies against a lone bogey on the par-four fourth to set up a tantalising clash with Bourdy on the final day.
“It’s a good position to be in. Bourdy and I will be playing together again tomorrow. There is a bit of a cushion behind me but on the other hand he’s two in front so if he has another good score, I’ll have to shoot low to catch him,” said the Dutch who is also aiming to settle some old scores with the Frenchman.
“Last time I played with him was in Majorca and he got me there so I will be trying to even the score tomorrow,” added Derksen.
Having rallied himself back into contention with round scores of 66, 68 and 65, McIlroy knows that he is just 18 holes away from a famous victory that will help erase the heartbreak of last year where he lost to Lin in a play-off.
“I was in a similar position last year and shot a 65 to get into the play-off. I’ll have to do something like that or even better tomorrow. My mindset is to get off to a fast start and try my best to keep it going,” said McIlroy.
Meanwhile Lin will be hoping that luck will be on his side again when he tees off on the final round as it eluded him on several occasions on the 6,722yd par-70 composite course at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
“I just wished that my back-nine was as good as my front-nine where I got four birdies. I was left to rue several missed birdie chances on the back-nine. They just simply wouldn’t fall into the cup,” said Lin.
“Not really sure why, perhaps I just didn’t have the luck today. I’ll do my best and hope that everything will turn out well tomorrow,” added the 35-year-old defending champion.
Miguel Angel Jimenez continued his love affair with the UBS Hong Kong Open as the Spaniard blazed a seven under par 63 to set the third round clubhouse target at ten under par.
The two time former champion at the Hong Kong Golf Club began the day with a bogey but rebounded with eight birdies including a run of four straight on the front nine.
“I have won a couple of times here. I like the golf course. You don’t need to bang the ball to win, you have to play well, focus on the tee and put the ball in play,” said Jimenez as he headed for the clubhouse for one of his favourite cigars and a well-earned lunch. He will start the final day in joint fourth position on 200, six behind pacemaker Bourdy.
The Race to Dubai contender Rory McIlroy picked up two shots at the turn to improve to eight under par but will be left to rue a costly double bogey in the middle of his outward nine.
Lee Westwood, who sits just ahead of McIlroy on The Race to Dubai with just two events remaining, continued to struggle and carded a third round 69 to improve to five under par.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 210 (3x70)
194 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 64 67 63
196 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 63 68 65
199 Rory McIlroy 66 68 65
200 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 68 66, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68 69 63, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe) 64 69 67, Peter Lawrie 66 68 66
201 Graeme McDowell 67 68 66, Danny Chia (Mal) 67 66 68
202 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 65 66 71, David Howell 69 66 67, Simon Dyson 68 67 67, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 68 68, Marcus Both (Aus) 70 67 65, David Dixon 64 69 69, Ian Poulter 68 66 68, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 66 67 69, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 69 67
203 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 65 67 71, Wei Chih Lu (Tha) 65 69 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 65 70, Darren Clarke 69 67 67, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 64 71 68, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 68 67 68, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 68 67, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 66 65 72, Mark Foster 65 69 69
204 Tony Carolan (Aus) 65 71 68, Airil-Rizman Zahari (Mal) 68 66 70, Scott Drummond 69 67 68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 68 67 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 68 68 68
205 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 67 70 68, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 67 67, Colin Montgomerie 69 69 67, Rhys Davies 65 69 71, Lian-Wei Zhang (Chn) 67 69 69, Simon Yates 70 68 67, Markus Brier (Aut) 70 68 67, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 70 68, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 69 68 68, Lee Westwood 66 70 69
206 Kiradech Aphibamrat (Tha) 68 67 71, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70 68, Iain Steel (Mal) 68 70 68
207 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 65 72, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 65 69 73, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 71 67 69, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 66 66 75
208 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 67 70, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67 70 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 68 72, Jamie Donaldson 69 69 70, Mars Pucay (Phi) 68 67 73, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 69 68 71, Simon Khan 67 70 71
209 Anthony Kang (USA) 69 66 74, Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 65 73 71, Shun yat jason Hak (Hkg) 70 67 72, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 69 71
210 Darren Beck (Aus) 68 70 72, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 71 67 72, Bradley Dredge 66 71 73
211 Udorn Duangdecha (Tha) 62 74 75, Graeme Storm 68 67 76
215 Ter-Chang Wang (Tpe) 66 72 77
Retired: Ben Curtis (USA) 65 72 -