JAMES BYRNE DROPS OUT OF TOP TEN ON TAIPEI

James Byrne's bid for a third successive top-10 finish on the Asian Developmental Tour is in danger of failing after he dropped down to a share of 30th place with one round to go in the Yeangder ADT tournament on Taipei.
The former Walker Cup player from Banchory has had rounds of 70, 69 and 74 for a three-under-par 213 and was in joint eighth place after two rounds.
Lu Chien-soon, a 52-year-old Taipei-based player, leads by five shots with scores of 66, 63 and 68 for 19-under-par 197.

 VETERAN LU STAYS IN COMMAND
 AT THE YEANGDER ADT

 

News Release from the Asian Tour

Taipei, November 22: Local stalwart Lu Chien-soon kept pace in his title run at the Yeangder ADT, shooting a third round four-under-par 68 for a five-stroke advantage over Lin Wen-tang on Thursday.

Lu is in position to become the oldest winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) at the age of 52 as he leads the chasing pack on 19-under-par 197 in the US$120,000 season-ending ADT event.

Lin, who is sponsored by the Yeangder Group, maintained his chase with a 66 while Chan Yih-shin and Brian Locke of the United States were a further three shots back after posting a 68 and 70 respectively at the National Garden Country Club.

Lu, a regular on the Champions Tour in the United States, is confident he can win a second straight victory after his triumph in a senior’s event on home soil last week.

“I think there’s no problem for me to win. I’m feeling very confident and this course suits my eye. My goal is to shoot five-under on the last day,” said Lu, winner of multiple titles in Asia during the 1980s.

After turning in 34, Lu made birdie and bogey on holes 13 and 14 respectively before carding a superb 24 foot chip-in birdie on 16. He capped another splendid round with another close range birdie on the last.

“I seem very lucky on this course. If I get into trouble, I’ll save par. The birdies keep dropping for me and that keeps me going. I don’t feel tired especially in this breezy weather,” he added.

Lin, a five-time Asian Tour winner, did not miss a single fairway as he made the turn in 33 and sank a four foot eagle putt on 13. He is desperate to win the Yeangder ADT for his boss and Yeangder Group Chairman, Emmet Hsu, who is a strong supporter of the Asian Tour, the ADT and golf in Chinese Taipei.

“Emmet is a very good sponsor to all of us. I’ve always wanted to win an event sponsored  by Yeangder. I’ve finished in the top-five of the Yeangder TPC (on the Asian Tour) before but I want to win one,” said Lin.

Locke said he played a ‘boring’ round of three birdies and one bogey as he trails the leader and playing partner Lu by eight shots.

“It is a putting game on this golf course. You need to get your putter hot if you want to mount a challenge. I’m playing solidly so I’m happy with that. Obviously Lu is playing great so we all have to play catch-up,” said Locke, who won his first ADT event in Malaysia two weeks ago.

ADT Order of Merit leader Jay Bayron of the Philippines is likely to earn an Asian Tour card for 2013 as he shot a 66 for seventh place. Peter Richardson of England is also in the running to finish in the top three of the Order of Merit following his round of 70.

However, Hsieh Chi-hsien, who is currently fourth on the Order of Merit needs a low round on the final day to make a surprise break inside the safety zone. He is currently tied 22^nd while Hsu Mong-nan, second on the Order of Merit, is a stroke ahead.

Slightly over US$4,000 separates him and countryman Hsu and the young player knows there is much to play for.

“It is going to be exciting and I look forward to it. There’s still a chance for me. I know this course well and I’ve won here before. I’m targeting a seven-under, which I hope will pull me through,” said the 22-year-old Hsieh, who won on this venue in August.

 

Leading third round scores:

Par 216 (3x72)

197 LU Chien-soon (TPE) 66-63-68  

202 LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 66-70-66   

205 CHAN Yih-shin (TPE) 71-66-68, Brian LOCKE (USA) 68-67-70  

206 HUANG Tao (TPE) 68-72-66, YANG Fei-hao (TPE) 71-66-69    

207 Jay BAYRON (PHI) 71-70-66, CHIANG Chen-chih (TPE) 68-73-66         

208 Michael BIBAT (PHI) 69-72-67, TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 70-69-69          

209 Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 71-68-70, LIN Keng-chi (TPE) 70-69-70, T.J. KIM (KOR) 68-66 -75           

210 Jhonnel ABABA (PHI) 68-73-69, LIN Te Ming (TPE) 74-68-68, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-72-69, CHEN Tze-chung (TPE) 72-68-70       

211 LIEN Chi-Wei (TPE) 69-73-69, LIN Chien-bing (TPE) 70-73-68, HSU Mong-nan (TPE) 67-72-72, Nick REDFERN (ENG) 68-71-72          

SELECTED SCORE

213 James Byrne (Scotland) 70 69 74