UBS HONG KONG OPEN RELATED STORIES UBS Hong Kong Open Preview Round 1: Randhawa and Lara tied for lead Round 1: Singh protects Order of Merit position Round 2: Lara leads as Zhang fires 63 for third Round 2: Randhawa and Singh battle for OoM Round 3: Pagunsan leads Asian challenge to Lara Round 3: Pagunsan, Thongchai boost OoM chances Round 4: Lara wins maiden title at UBS HK Open Round 4: Singh wins Asian Tour Order of Merit Final Scores & Prize Money Monty intent on defending HK title Prom hoping to close in on Singh in Fanling Singh hopes to shine at Fanling despite injury Asians aim to end European monopoly at Fanling Jimenez aiming to reclaim HK crown Local hopefuls play for slots in HK Open Asian hopes high ahead of UBS Hong Kong Open More European stars confirmed for Fanling Goosen and Campbell on a high for Hong Kong Choi joins stars to shine at Fanling Monty & Major winners fired up for Fanling More about the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Swedes sweep World Cup win Lin & Marksaeng near top 50 HK: Lin wins in 3-way playoff Asian Tour hits landmark 300 in HK Asian Tour releases 2009 schedule Report predicts 30% China golf growth GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Sweden win World Cup Internationals claim Lexus Cup Pampling wins in a playoff Choi wins Skins Game Amateur: EGU allow range finders

Pagunsan leads Asian challenge to leader Lara

Filipino rookie Juvic Pagunsan is closing in on a maiden title at the UBS Hong Kong Open as he trails Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara by two strokes after the third round on Saturday.

Lara, who has led from the opening day, enjoyed a blemish-free card with a four-under-par 66 while Pagunsan applied the pressure with seven birdies against a bogey and a double bogey at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The Spaniard leads the way with a three-day total of 14-under-par 196 with Pagunsan in second place and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy in outright third after a 69, four back, in the US$2 million event.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee enjoyed a strong outing which included an eagle at the par five 13th hole as he climbed up to tied fourth position after a 67. Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour number one, is five off the pace alongside former Hong Kong Open winner, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain who shot a solid 66.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa slid to joint sixth place after a 69 together with compatriot and UBS Order of Merit leader Jeev Milkha Singh who carded an identical score. Also in tied sixth place was China’s Zhang Lian-wei, who was even par for the day.

Lara was in inspired form as he fired four birdies as he put himself in pole position for a maiden European Tour title in the co-sanctioned event. “I have led the last two days and feel very well. I don’t think tomorrow will be the hardest day but you don’t know.

"I will try and do the same job as I have done so far,” said Lara, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jimenez and compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal who won the tournament in 2004 and 2001 respectively.

“They will have to shoot a low score and wait for my mistakes. If I play the same way I played today, it will be a good day,” added the Spaniard, who has four runner-up finishes on the European Tour.

Pagunsan, who turned professional this year after winning the 2005 South East Asian Games gold medal, bounced back from dropping three shots around the turn with four consecutive birdies from the 11th hole as he stayed in the title frame.

“I had an edgy start but it was a nice come back so overall I had a good round today,” said Pagunsan. “It was unfortunate though at the ninth hole where I dropped a double bogey but I made a remarkable comeback so I am quite pleased with my round,” said Pagunsan.

Thongchai was delighted to be mixing it up with the title contenders after sinking an eagle, four birdies against three bogeys. “My game is getting better especially my putting. I was struggling with my putting for the past six months. I tried using a new putting technique but it did not work so I went back to my old style. I resorted back to my old technique around two to three months ago,” said Thongchai.

“The eagle was great. I struck a perfect drive off the tee and I used a three iron in my second shot. And then I made a good putt from around 12 to 13 feet from the pin,” he added.

Cigar-chomping Jimenez, who played a practice round with Lara earlier in the week, could prove to be a real threat on Sunday. But he knows that Lara is on the threshold of a first triumph. "He is playing very well. He is ready to win a tournament and has been on top there so many times and one of these days he will win and maybe it will be this week. I will try to push him hard. I think if I don't win it, it will be won by Lara," said Jimenez, who has previously won three times in Asia.

Title holder Colin Montgomerie of Scotland carded a 70 for tied 19th place on 205.

Leading third round scores

196 - Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 64-66-66

198 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 67-65-66

200 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 65-66-69

201 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 68-67-66, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-66-67

202 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 69-68-65, Jean Van De Velde (FRA) 68-67-67, Simon Khan (ENG) 66-68-68, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 66-67-69, Zhang Lian-Wei (CHN) 69-63-70, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 64-69-69

203 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 71-69-63, Mark Pilkington (WAL) 69-67-67

204 - Matthew Millar (AUS) 69-71-64, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-69-67, Christian Cevaer (FRA) 68-68-68, Angelo Que (PHI) 69-66-69, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 67-65-72

November 18, 2006