2007 BMW Asian Open - Round 3: Jacquelin takes one shot lead into Sunday

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin stayed firmly on track for victory at the US$2.3 million BMW Asian Open where he will take a slim one-shot lead into Sunday's final round.

Jacquelin, bidding for a second career title, battled to a two-under-par 70 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club on Saturday for a three-day total of 11-under-par 205. He held off a spirited Scott Hend of Australia, who stayed in the title hunt with a fine 67.

Scotsman Simon Yates brilliantly equalled the course record of 64 to lie only two back going into the last day, tied with Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.

South African star Ernie Els fired his week's best of 68 to give himself a shot at winning a second BMW Asian Open title and is five behind Jacquelin. Asia's best player was Korea's Lee Sung, who carded a 71 for a share of ninth place on 209, only four back.

"I am feeling pretty good. It was a bit more difficult today as I didn’t putt very well," said Jacquelin, who has led the tournament since the opening round. "I try every week and will do my best. We never know. The game is very difficult and I will try my best on every shot. If win I will be very happy, if not I will try again next week."

With forecast of severe weather conditions for Sunday, organisers announced the final round will begin at 6.40am, with the leaders teeing off at 8.30am. Jacquelin is well prepared for a wet and wild last day romp, especially when he failed to cross the finish line first at Shanghai Silport last week after seizing the halfway lead.

"I am excited every time I am on the leaderbaord and especially in the last group. I am pretty calm usually and that is the way I play. And I'll try and have a bit of fun, even if it is raining."

Big-hitting Hend, currently fourth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit after two runner-up finishes this season, continues his rehabilitation from a serious hand injury by staying within sight of Jacquelin's rear mirror. He fired seven birdies against two dropped shots and made a huge par save from 15 feet at the last hole to keep the lead down to one. "It felt like 100 feet!," said Scott of the last putt. "It was probably 15 feet or something like that. It felt a long way."

After spending two years on the US PGA Tour from 2004 to 2005, Hend lost his card in America and then tore muscles on his left hand last year which set his career back. But after earning his card on the Asian Tour through Qualifying School, Hend has grown in strength and feels a win is just around the corner.

"I'm as close as I've been for a long time. But there are a lot of other guys out there that I've got to beat and one of them is myself," said Hend, who entered the last round last week one lying off the lead.

"If I can manage to control myself and win the battle with myself, then I will have a chance that it could happen. There's 18 holes to go and it's a long way. Sometimes, I want to hit a driver in places where it doesn't really fit. It's those little battles in the head when you go 'I want to hit it, I want to hit it' and then go 'no, no no.'," said Hend.

Yates, who has finished third on the Order of Merit on two occasions in Asia, charged into contention with a fast start of three opening birdies before hitting another purple patch with birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth to turn in 30. With three more birdies on the back nine, the Scotsman was poised for a new course record but dropped a shot on the 18th hole after finding the fairway trap.

The Thai-based Scotsman was delighted to be in the hunt in the BMW Asian Open, especially after opening with a 74 on Thursday , but he wasn't sure if winning on Sunday would give him the same thrill as winning a car race, which he is passionate about these days.

"Three under after three holes, you feel pretty good. I played nicely, hit a lot of greens and didn't make any mistakes and putted really well. It was a shame at the last. Otherwise, it was a nice round of golf," said Yates, who matched Thailand's Somkiat Srisanga's course mark.

Winning a BMW-sponsored event would certainly match Yates' recent passion for car racing where he has won once in Thailand. "It's quite weird because the first win I had racing in a car was the best feeling I've ever had from winning anything. Golf has never given me that feeling," said Yates, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

World number five Els, winner of the BMW Asian Open in 2005 by a record 13 strokes, must come from five shots behind if he hopes to secure his season's first title. He endured a frustrating front nine of 36 but four birdies on his inward half has given him an outside chance on Sunday.

"I have got half a chance now," said Els, a three-time Major winner. "I am just glad I made a few putts on the back nine as I have not holed anything all week. If it rains the greens will be softer and you can be really aggressive with your second shots but the par fives will be unreachable in two, so your putter has to be hot."

Lee, who played in the last pairing with Jacquelin, showed signs of nerves as he shot only one birdie for the day. "I played averagely. My heart was pumping today. I hope to be calm tomorrow. I won't think about the gap at the top," said the deaf-born Lee, who communicates through lip reading with his father, Kang-kun.

Spectators will have one last chance on Sunday to visit the Public Village at Tomson which has star attractions such as the Noel Hunt's trick golf show, the BMW xDrive demonstration, children's safety park and many other exciting activities.

Leading third round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

205 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 66-69-70

206 - Scott Hend (AUS) 69-70-67

207 - Simon Yates (SCO) 74-69-64, Joakim Backstrom (SWE) 70-69-68, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 67-72-68

208 - Soren Hansen (DEN) 71-70-67, Markus Brier (AUT) 71-69-68, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-70-69

209 - Andrew Mclardy (RSA) 72-70-67, Lee Sung (KOR) 68-70-71

210 - Ernie Els (RSA) 71-71-68, Christian Cevaer (FRA) 71-70-69, Simon Dyson (ENG) 70-70-70

211 - Andres Romero (ARG) 75-70-66, Adam Blyth (AUS) 71-73-67, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 72-69-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 70-69-72

212 - Gary Murphy (IRL) 74-72-66, David Bransdon (AUS) 76-68-68, Graeme Mcdowell (NIR) 73-70-69, Damien Mcgrane (IRL) 70-73-69, Tony Carolan (AUS) 69-74-69, Keith Horne (RSA) 73-69-70

213 - Peter O'Malley (AUS) 73-72-68, Kane Webber (AUS) 71-73-69, Richard Sterne (RSA) 70-74-69, Mark Pilkington (WAL) 71-72-70, Kyron Sullivan (WAL) 75-66-72, Scott Barr (AUS) 71-70-72

April 21, 2007

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page