2007 GS Caltex Maekyung Open - Round 3: Liang stays on track for season's second victory

China's Liang Wen-chong stayed firmly on track to lift a second title of the season when he retained his overnight one-shot lead after the third round of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Liang, who has led since the opening day at Nam Seoul Country Club, carded a brilliant five-under-par 67 for a three-day score of 14-under-par 202 in the US$600,000 Asian Tour event.

Hot on Liang's heels is talented Korean youngster Kim Kyung-tae, who made it a two-horse race for the Maekyung title after matching Liang's round with a blistering back nine performance.

Korean-born Australian Lee Won-joon, playing in his rookie season on the Asian Tour, carded the day's joint best round of 66 for third place, thanks to six birdies. However, the 21-year-old is seven shots behind leader Liang.

A further three strokes back in fourth place was American Anthony Kang, who carded a 68 for a 212 total.

Liang has added incentive as victory on Sunday will see him top the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit. "I played very nicely again today. I drove the ball well and the irons were a lot better than yesterday. It still wasn't easy as it's a tough course, so I'm happy to shoot a 67.

"It's not over yet. Kim is strong player. He played well today and putted great," said Liang, who is currently second on the UBS Order of Merit thanks to his win in the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters and four other top-10s.

The talented Liang turned in 33 to seize the early initiative from playing partner Kim and was four-under for the day through 10 holes before dropping his first bogey of the round on the 14th.

But like a true champion, the Zhongshan-based golfer bounced straight back with successive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to give himself a slender lead over 20-year-old Kim.

The in-form Kim, who turned professional after winning two gold medals in the Asian Games in Doha last December, produced a wonderful back nine performance that thrilled the Nam Seoul galleries.

After negotiating the outward nine in one under, the prodigious talent ensured he stayed within striking range of Liang with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th holes.

"When I won last week (on the domestic Tour) for the first time as a professional, it was very special as you don't get to do it all the time. This week, I was hoping for a top 10 but now, I have a chance to win. It is a huge bonus to be in contention and I'm enjoying every moment of it," said Kim.

"I enjoyed playing with Liang. I was impressed with his game and demeanour. I am not going to change my game plan, I'll have to remain aggressive but you have to leave your approach shots on the right spots on the greens."

Lee, 21, hit the joint low round of the day to give himself a shot at earning his biggest cheque of his career. "After a 76 on Thursday, I had to grind it out. I worked it out on the range after the first day and it's gotten a lot better since then," said Lee, who qualified for his maiden British Open through qualifying in Singapore last month.

Last year's champion Suk Jong-yul of Korea shot a 72 for a 215 total, good for tied 18th place in what is the 13th leg of this season's Asian Tour Schedule.

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

202 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 64-71-67

203 - Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-66-67

209 - Lee Won-joon (AUS) 76-67-66

212 - Anthony Kang (USA) 75-69-68

213 - Hwang In-choon (KOR) 74-71-68, Kim Jong-duk (KOR) 75-70-68, Choi Gwang-soo (KOR) 70-76-67, Mitchell Brown (AUS) 66-73-74, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 73-67-73, Shin Yong-jin (KOR) 70-69-74

214 - Choi Joon-woo (KOR) 71-73-70, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 71-72-71, Lee Jin-Myung [A] (KOR) 70-73-71, Richard Lee (NZL) 68-75-71, Hong Soon-sang (KOR) 76-72-66, Lee Seong-ho (KOR) 72-71-71, Roy Moon (USA) 72-69-73

215 - Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 71-72-72, Yoo Jong-gu (KOR) 68-73-74, Lee Gun-hee (KOR) 69-70-76

216 - Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 71-73-72, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-73-72, Mang Dong-sub [A] (KOR) 74-72-70, Marcus Both (AUS) 73-74-69, Unho Park (AUS) 74-69-73, Kim Bi-o [A] (KOR) 72-69-75, Gavin Flint (AUS) 73-69-74

May 5, 2007

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