2006 Volkswagen Masters-China Open - Round 3: Retief rockets into five-shot lead

Defending champion Retief Goosen tightened his grip in the Volkswagen Masters-China after a five-under-par 67 on Saturday gave him a five-shot lead going into Sunday's final round.

The South African star maintained his terrific run of form at Yalong Bay Golf Club, shooting an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys for a three-day total of 20-under-par 196 and leads Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh, who battled to a 69.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell is six strokes back in third place after a roller-coaster 70 in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event. Scotsman Simon Dunn moved up to fourth following a 66 while Thai teenager Chinarat Phadungsil, a winner at Yalong Bay two months ago, charged into fifth place with England's Yasin Ali after a superb 64.

"I'm not going to get ahead of myself," said Goosen. "You know, it's not always easy playing with a big lead. Everyone expects you to win and it puts pressure on you. I've got to play aggressive. On this course, you can make a good score and get on a roll which I have. Five shots is five shots. It never feels enough. You rather be 20 shots ahead."

The overnight leader turned in 36 with a pair of birdies and bogeys each but once again showed why he is one of the best players in the world with a masterful inward 31. After Lu briefly tied for the lead on the 11th hole, Goosen turned on the style.

He eagled the par five 13th from 20 feet and drained another 15-footer for birdie at the next hole. Goosen finally got the measure of the par five 16th, which he bogeyed in the first two days, by chipping it close for an easy birdie before rounding off his day with a 40-foot birdie putt at the last.

"The one on 18 was kind of a lucky one. I was trying to hit that close and it happened to go in. 16 was unbelievable. It felt like an eagle," said Goosen.

Goosen was impressed with the 43-year-old Lu, who battled gamely and tied the South African after sinking four birdies against a lone bogey through 11 holes. "He played really well. After the 11th, we were all square. So I knew it was game on. I knew I had to raise my game to get back in front. He's going to be a guy whom I'll have to watch out for tomorrow," said Goosen.

Lu, a two time winner in Asia, was proud of the way he held his own against the two Major champions. But trailing by five, the veteran, who led after an opening 63, knows he needs another special round to upset the odds.

"I am satisfied with the way I played. I didn't think about chasing Retief or Michael. I just played my own game and see if I could learn from these two great players. They can easily reach the par fives in two with their length and I was just playing for pars or birdies.

"I won't have any special strategy for tomorrow. I will just keep trying my best," said Lu, who is presently 33rd on the UBS Order of Merit.

Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, admitted it will be an uphill battle to topple Goosen from his perch. The Kiwi star endured a bumpy ride in the third round and rued a cold putter.

"The putts weren't going in. They kept shaving the holes on four or five occasions and it was pretty frustrating. Six behind Retief is a lot but you know, I need a good strong start tomorrow," said Campbell, who was runner-up to Goosen in the Volkswagen Masters-China last year. "Retief's putt on 18 was like a final nail in the coffin. It was a good putt."

The 17-year-old Chinarat claimed the Crowne Plaza Open at Yalong Bay recently but acknowledged that he was fighting only for second place after a magnificent 64 which included seven birdies and one eagle.

He said his good week was thanks largely to Thammanoon Srirot, whom he borrowed a driver from before the start of his first round. "The key has been my driving. I borrowed Thammanoon's driver and I've been driving it well. I've got a good feel with it and I think it's because of the shaft which is more suited to my game," said Chinarat, who is eight shots back.

"Maybe I'll have try to fight for second place. It seems like it's too far away but if I can shoot another 64 or better in the final round, you will never know. When I arrived here, I had good feelings because I've won here before. I was hoping to try for another win but Retief seems to be playing so well," added the Thai.

Chinarat's round was highlighted by a superb eagle on the short par four seventh hole which he drove the green and stopped three foot from the flag and another chip-in birdie on the 14th hole

Li Chao was the highest ranked mainland Chinese player at tied seventh place after a 67 put him on 207.

Leading third round scores
196 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 64-65-67
201 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 63-69-69
202 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 64-68-70
203 - Simon Dunn (SCO) 68-69-66
204 - Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 72-68-64, Yasin Ali (ENG) 66-69-69
207 - Michael Wright (AUS) 70-72-65, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 73-69-65, Tony Lascuna (PHI) 68-72-67, Kane Webber (AUS) 70-69-68, Li Chao (CHN) 70-70-67
208 - Unho Park (AUS) 72-71-65, Marcus Both (AUS) 70-65-73
209 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74-70-65, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 73-69-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-69-68, Anthony Kang (USA) 70-68-71, Ross Bain (SCO) 68-67-74
210 - Adam Blyth (AUS) 69-71-70, Arjun Singh (IND) 70-68-72
211 - Anthony Brown (AUS) 75-69-67, Garth Mulroy (RSA) 71-72-68, Digvijay Singh (IND) 70-71-70, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 72-69-70, Kevin Chun (NZL) 72-69-70, Gurbaaz Mann (IND) 74-66-71, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 72-69-70, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 70-70-71, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 68-71-72

October 14, 2006

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