49th KOLON-Hana Bank Korea Open - Round 3: Yang snatches third round lead

Korea’s Yang Yong-eun extended his fine form as he fired a three-under-par 68 for the third round lead at the US$700,000 Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open on Saturday.

Yang, who won the Suntory Open on the Japan Tour two weeks ago, fired five birdies against two bogeys after a tough day at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club for a three-day total of 13-under-par 200.

The 34-year-old Korean took a three stroke lead ahead of compatriot Kang Ji-man who stumbled to a 73 and Kang Kyung-nam who shot a 72.

Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen of South Africa improved in the third round with a 69 six strokes off the pace. But Bubba Watson, the longest hitter on the US PGA Tour, struggled with his game as he shot a disappointing 75 in tied 11th spot.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, was even-par for the day in joint sixth spot alongside Korean amateur Kim Do-hoon who continued to impress after a 69.

Nam Young-woo of Korea was also level-par in tied sixth position a stroke ahead of India’s Rahil Gangjee who made a steady rise up the leaderboard after a 67 in lone 10th spot.

Yang enjoyed a strong start with a birdie at the opening hole but he took a slight dip with bogeys on the second and fourth holes.

After birdies on the sixth, eighth and 10th holes, Yang was faced with the challenging island green at the par three 13th hole. His drive fell short off the green and landed in the bunker. But he recovered well with his second shot that was seven feet off the pin for par. He extended his lead further after a 10 foot birdie putt at the 15th hole and closed in with a steady par putt at the 18th hole.

“The greens are harder and faster than the last two days. And I think it will be even tougher and faster on Sunday. So I will play for par on every hole tomorrow. Maybe I'll have a chance to win if I shoot a three under par tomorrow,” said Yang.

“It was a tough day because of the wind and pin positions. But I think I played well under those conditions,” he said.

Watson, who chalked up three top-10 finishes on the US PGA Tour this season, fell victim to the tough playing conditions with four birdies against four bogeys and two double bogeys.

“I hit some terrible shots and went out of focus in the last six holes and it really cost me,” said Watson.

“You can take advantage of the par fives but the par three and fours and tough out there,” he said.

Kyung-nam, 23, who was Rookie of the Year last year on the Korean circuit, fired five birdies against an equal number of bogeys and a double bogey before his crucial five foot birdie putt at the closing 18th hole. Ji-man, who defeated 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell at a domestic Korean event three weeks ago, endured a sluggish third round with two birdies against four bogeys.

After a 69, Goosen was not pleased with his overall score as he hopes to improve on his putts for the final hurdle on Sunday.

“The first round was great but in the following two rounds, I wasn’t hitting the ball well and I wasn’t putting well. It is definitely not what I was hoping for,” said Goosen.

Leading third round scores
200 - Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 65-67-68
203 - Kang Ji-man (KOR) 67-63-73, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-63-72
204 - Kwon Myung-ho (KOR) 66-69-69, Chung Joon (KOR) 68-66-70
206 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 65-72-69, Kim Do-hoon I [A] (KOR) 70-67-69
Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-66-71, Nam Young-woo (KOR) 66-69-71
207 - Rahil Gangjee (IND) 70-70-67
208 - Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-70-68, David Oh (USA) 74-66-68, Kong Young-joon (KOR) 67-72-69, Kim Do-hoon Ii [A] (KOR) 69-69-70, Bubba Watson (USA) 67-66-75
209 - Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 70-67-72, Shin Yong-jin (KOR) 67-68-74, Noh Seung-yul [A] (KOR) 69-67-73
210 - Kim Hyung-sung (KOR) 67-72-71, Yoo Jong-koo (KOR) 72-67-71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-69-73, Kim Kyung-tae [A] (KOR) 70-68-72, Choi Hyun (KOR) 68-70-72

September 23, 2006

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