DONALDSON STAYS THREE CLEAR AT SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA

NEDBANK CHALLENGE REPORT

FROM MICHAEL GIBBONS

European Tour Staff

Jamie Donaldson continued his stunning performance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge to maintain his three stroke lead and set up a US$1.25 million pay day going into Sunday's final round at the Gary Player Country Club. 

The Welshman is looking to become the first rookie winner of the event for 28 years (the last being Mark McNulty in 1986) and should he continue his form of the first three rounds will be difficult man to catch.

His third round of five under 67, for a 16 under total, saw him stay three clear of Denmark’s Thomas Björn (66) and American Ryan Moore (67), with Henrik Stenson (69) a further shot back alongside Sergio Garcia (66) and Thongchai Jaidee (66). 

“It would be very special to win here,” said Donaldson. “It’s a great golf course and a great country. It’s a great resort and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing here. To win here, against such a high quality field would be up there. I’ve won twice on The European Tour so far, and while every win is special, this would just be a little more special.

“This is a really difficult field, it’s one of the best fields in the world so a three shot lead against these guys doesn’t really mean much. You’ve got to go out there and play really good golf – that’s what I’ll be aiming to do tomorrow.” 

Donaldson may not be the biggest name in the field, but he is among the most talented. No one knows that more than Björn, who knows he has to play great golf and hope that Donaldson has an off-day if he is to take home that $1.25 million top prize.

“It is going to be one of those days when you have to go out there and try to shoot 66 or 67 and then see what Jamie does,” said the Dane. “This is not a golf course where you can go out early and chase him down because it can get away from you so quickly if you do that. 

“If you are too aggressive too early you can play yourself out of the tournament. And you just never know in golf. His lead could be gone in the space of a couple of holes but at the same time he could be six clear in the same space of time so I just have to try and plod along and take my chances and see what he does.

“The other thing is that Jamie is a wonderful player now. He has really come of age over the last few years and that is the talent that he has. He has suffered from a lot of back problems in his career but he has come of age and realised he can compete with the best in the world and he has taken a lot of confidence from that.”

 THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

200 J Donaldson (Wal) 67 66 67

203 T Björn (Den) 67 70 66, R Moore  (USA) 71 65 67

205 H Stenson (Swe) 69 67 69, S Garcia  (Esp) 66 73 66, T Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 66

207 B De Jonge (Zim) 70 68 69

208 D Points (USA) 71 67 70, D Fichardt (RSA) 71 68 69,

209 P Uihlein  (USA) 70 69 70, C Schwartzel  (RSA) 68 70 71, J Rose (Eng) 73 67 69

210 L Oosthuizen  (RSA) 74 69 67

211 G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 67 72 72, M Kaymer (Ger) 71 66 74

213 L Donald  (Eng) 68 71 74

215 F Molinari (Ita) 76 70 69, B Grace  (RSA) 75 71 69, M Madsen  (Den) 76 71 68

216 V Dubuisson  (Fra) 73 72 71

217 J Luiten (Ned) 74 68 75, T Wiratchant (Tha) 71 76 70, R Sterne  (RSA) 73 73 71

218 M Manassero (Ita) 72 74 72

219 D Lynn (Eng) 73 71 75

222 D Van Der Walt (RSA) 77 72 73, G Woodland (USA) 74 73 75

223 K Streelman (USA) 75 71 77, E Els (RSA) 75 71 77, P Senior (Aus) 80 68 75

 

 

 

MANLEY LEADS AFTER THREE ROUNDS OF HONG KONG OPEN

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Stuart Manley put himself in pole position to win his first European Tour title with a classy four under par 66 in the third round of the Hong Kong Open. 

At ten under par, the Welshman leads by one shot from Indian Shiv Kapur and Australian Wade Ormsby, with Spaniards José Manuel Lara and Miguel Angel Jiménez, the defending champion, lurking at eight under alongside England’s Steve Webster.

Manley has had an eventful few weeks since earning his European Tour card at the Qualifying School Final Stage, hitting the headlines at the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf in Australia when he had a hole-in-one followed immediately by an 11. 

Despite feeling a little fatigued from all the long-distance travel – he played last week in South Africa, too – the 34 year old is excited about what lies in store in Sunday’s final round at Hong Kong Golf Club.

“Pretty much from the first hole onwards, every iron shot was right down the pin,” said Manley, who reached the turn in two under par and added three more birdies against one bogey on the back nine. 

“If it had been a good day on the greens it could have been a really low round, so it was disappointing not to capitalise, but I feel very confident the way I'm playing and I’m really excited about tomorrow.

“I was really unlucky on the 16^th, when I landed the ball in the perfect position but it hit the sprinkler and went to the back of the green. That was disappointing, but I was pleased to get back to ten under with a birdie at the 17^th. 

“I wanted to be leading after three rounds, and I wanted to be in the last group, so I'm delighted. There’s a lot of golf left, but winning would mean the world.”

Jiménez, Kapur and Ormsby all birdied the tricky par four 18^th to limit Manley’s advantage, but it was a day to forget for second round leader Jbe Kruger, who struggled to a three over par 73.

Jiménez became the oldest winner in European Tour history when he triumphed here last year, and he added: “I hope I can keep hitting the ball the way I'm hitting it and knock in some putts to get the victory here, I would love it. I love this golf course.”

 

THIRD ROUND SCORES: 

Par 210 (3x70)

200 S Manley (Wal) 67 67 66

201 S Kapur (Ind) 69 66 66, W Ormsby (Aus) 67 68 66

202 J Lara (Esp) 69 68 65, M Jiménez (Esp) 70 67 65, S Webster (Eng) 71 66 65

203 P Meesawat  (Tha) 66 70 67, A Cejka (Ger) 68 67 68, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 70 65

204 U Park (Aus) 71 66 67, J Makitalo  (Fin) 67 71 66, A Que (Phi) 69 67 68, R Derksen (Ned) 69 67 68, D Lipsky (USA) 69 68 67

205 R Finch  (Eng) 70 67 68, D Kataoka (Jpn) 68 68 69, J Randhawa (Ind) 72 67 66, O Fisher  (Eng) 68 70 67, A Lahiri (Ind) 68 70 67, A Pavan (Ita) 65 72 68

206 G Havret  (Fra) 71 70 65, N Elvira  (Esp) 67 72 67, E Kofstad (Nor) 68 68 70, J Carlsson (Swe) 70 70 66, J Colomo  (Esp) 72 66 68, B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 67 70, R Kakko  (Fin) 71 66 69, J Kruger (RSA) 67 66 73

207 J Morrison  (Eng) 71 67 69, P Pittayarat (Tha) 69 70 68, S Chowrasia (Ind) 68 69 70, J Campillo (Esp) 73 65 69, H Rai (Ind) 72 67 68, S Benson (Eng) 66 72 69, C Phadungsil  (Tha) 68 71 68

208 A Dodt (Aus) 66 70 72, A Da Silva (Bra) 71 70 67, B Paolini (USA) 70 68 70, K Gi-Whan (Kor) 70 69 69, D Im (USA) 71 66 71, C Plaphol (Tha) 69 70 69

209 H Wen-Yi (Chn) 72 69 68, A Byeong-Hun (Kor) 69 69 71, D Higgins (Irl) 64 74 71, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 68 72, M Fraser (Aus) 68 69 72, C Doak (Sco) 68 68 73, E Molinari  (Ita) 72 69 68, A Wall (Eng) 71 70 68

210 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 70 71 69, T Olesen (Den) 69 71 70, C Lam (Sin) 66 72 72, J Knutzon (USA) 70 71 69, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 70 67 73

211 T Chuayprakong (Tha) 69 72 70, S Henry  (Sco) 68 72 71, A Lascuna (Phi) 72 69 70, L Sung (Kor) 70 70 71, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 73 68 70, J Hahn (USA) 70 68 73, D Drysdale (Sco) 72 68 71, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 71 70, L Wei-Chih (Tpe) 69 72 70, A Forsyth (Sco) 68 72 71, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 70 70

212 S Singh (Ind) 66 73 73, C Nirat (Tha) 71 70 71, A Levy (Fra) 70 70 72

213 T Tang (Hkg) 71 70 72, L Wen-Tang (Tpe) 74 64 75

214 J Pagunsan (Phi) 71 70 73, G Stal  (Fra) 70 71 73

215 S Hend (Aus) 70 70 75

216 M Joong-Kyung (SKor) 70 70 76

217 D Brooks (Eng) 69 71 77

SJOHOLM TAKES CLUBHOUSE LEAD IN HONG KONG OPEN

THIRD-ROUND PROGRESS REPORT 
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm carded a flawless five under par 65 to grab the clubhouse lead during the third round of the Hong Kong Open.
The 28 year old lost his European Tour card at the end of the 2013 season, but can get it back with victory in Fanling.
Five birdies at Hong Kong Golf Club, including a superb 30 foot putt at the 18th, took him to seven under par and level with overnight leader Jbe Kruger, Welshman Stuart Manley and English pair Oliver Fisher and Steve Webster.
“I’m pretty excited to be where I am right now,” said Sjöholm. “Whatever happens tomorrow it’s been a great week for me.
“It has been a struggle the whole year for me so hopefully I can have a good day tomorrow and bring myself back for 2014.”
Kruger came home in 30 for a 66 on Friday, but dropped a shot at the first today after his approach found a bunker.
He got the shot back at the long third to be level par for the day through seven holes, while playing partner Manley was one under after holing a 25 footer at the seventh.
Fisher and Webster both enjoyed good runs on the back nine; Fisher producing three birdies and an eagle in four holes from the 12th, while Webster had a hat-trick of gains form the same hole.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez, his fellow Spaniard and the 2007 winner José Manuel Lara, American David Lipsky, Finn Jaakko Makitalo, Thai Prom Meesawat, Australian Wade Ormsby and India’s Shiv Kapur were all one behind the leading quintet.
Qualifying School graduate Manley made headlines last month when he followed a hole-in-one with an 11 at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, having thought he had won a car for his ace then being told it was only on offer in the final round.
And Manley was denied again when his tee shot to the eighth – which also features a car as a prize – finished millimetres from the cup, although the tap-in birdie took him into the lead on eight under.
Webster holed from 15 feet on the 16th to join him in the lead, and 2007 winner Lara – another without a full card for The 2014 Race to Dubai – had a hat-trick of gains from the 13th to make it a three-way tie at the top.

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TIGER, TIGER BURNING BRIGHT AGAIN ... FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE FOR A 62

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

In the second round of the 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, Tiger Woods fired a 10-under 62 to grab the lead.

THOUSAND OAKS, Californi -- Tiger Woods didn't like the way he warmed up on the range. What he produced on the golf course Friday left him with no complaints.

Woods had a birdie putt on every hole and made 10 of them for a 10-under 62, tying his course record at Sherwood Country Club and giving the tournament host a two-shot lead over Zach Johnson going into the weekend at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge.

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"It was good today," Woods said with a broad smile, perhaps because there was little else to say.
"It was a clinic," said Graeme McDowell, the defending champion who played alongside Woods in the second round and had a 67.
Woods was at 11-under 133 and will be paired in the last group Saturday with Johnson, who missed a few good birdie chances on the back nine but still managed a 68. Johnson is a two-time runner-up at the World Challenge, both times to Woods.
Matt Kuchar had a 68 and was three shots behind, and no one else was closer than five shots. What could challenge Woods, along with everyone else, is a forecast of rain and then wind for the final two days.
Woods didn't feel good about his swing until a tee shot to 15 feet on the par-3 third hole, and while he had to settle for par, he at least liked the way the ball left his club.
"It was the first swing I think I made, even during warm-up, that felt really good," Woods said. "And I tried to keep that feeling the rest of the day, and I did. I hit a lot of good shots after that."
It was the 10th time Woods has shot 62 or lower in a tournament. He went on to win six of those events. The exceptions were the 1999 HP Byron Nelson Classic (61 in the first round), the 2005 Buick Open (61 in the second round) and the 2012 Honda Classic (62 in the final round).
This is his final event of the year, though Woods has been around long enough to keep it in perspective.
"Two more rounds," he said.
No one is ready to concede this tournament to Woods, except for those at the far end of this 18-man field. Hunter Mahan had an 80, Dustin Johnson had a 79 and Rory McIlroy, coming off a win at the Australian Open, had a 77.
"Amazing what Tiger did out there. It's just some incredible golf," Kuchar said. "I kind of felt sorry for Graeme McDowell. I saw he posted a 5-under-par round, and it must have felt like it was 2 or 3 over. It's tough when you're paired with a guy like that. It makes you feel like you're not doing much. But the rest of us just go about our business."
Even after watching what he felt like was an exhibition -- Woods' golf, not the tournament -- McDowell figured he could still defend his title if he could nail down the speed of the greens, which are running on the fast side.
That's what set Woods apart on another chilly day at Sherwood. Not only did he make the putts, he rarely was in a position where he had to stress over par.
 The lone exception came on the par-3 12th, when Woods was in such a precarious spot above the hole that he had no intention of trying to make birdie. He would have had to start the ball high on a ridge to get it to roll near the hole, and that would mean more speed going by. So he aimed for the low side and made the 10-foot par putt coming back.
"I don't think I've seen them quite this fast unless we get Santa Ana's blowing when it's dry," Woods said. "I mean, this is the last tournament of the year for a lot of us. I'd think they'd make it a little easier on us. But they gave it to us pretty good the last couple days. You miss the ball in the wrong spots, you're making bogeys."
Woods never went more than two holes without a birdie. One of the few times he was above the hole, Woods hit his putt on a perfect line with the right pace and dipped his knees when it dropped in the right side of the cup.
Even as he dropped further behind, McDowell couldn't help but appreciate a flawless round of golf.
"I enjoyed that," he said. "It was cool to see that kind of golf. He was under control. He hit it down the middle of every fairway. He didn't have that kind of violence with his speed through the ball."
Woods said he was similar to the 61 he shot this summer at Firestone, where he went on to win the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational by seven shots.
"I think Firestone is obviously a much more difficult golf course than Sherwood," Woods said. "But as far as quality ball-striking, I hit it equally as good today, if not even better."
While Tiger Woods was at his brilliant best, Rory McIlroy slipped back to his worst form. He had a five-over-par 77 - 15 shots more than Woods over 18 holes - to be lying joint 16th on six-over-par 150.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
133 Tiger Woods (USA) 71 62
135 Zach Johnson (USA) 67 68
136 Matt Kuchar (USA 68 68
139 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 72 67
140 Bubba Watson (USA) 70 70

SELECTED OTHER SCORES
143 Ian Poulter (England) 76 67 (T8)
149 Lee Westwood (Engloand) 74 75 (T13)
150 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 73 77 (T16)

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