Adam Scott takes over lead with late birdies

Australian Adam Scott stormed into the third round lead at the US$2 million Singapore Open on Sunday morning, thanks to a blazing finish at Sentosa Golf Club.

The world number seven returned early in the day to complete his last four holes, and birdied three of them for a four-under-par 67 and a three-day total of seven-under-par 206. The sensational finish gave him a one-shot lead over co-second round leader American Edward Michaels, who parred his last four holes for a 71.

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, last season's Asian Tour number one, also enjoyed a superb finish, shooting two birdies in his last three holes for a 70 to lie two back alongside young Australian Andrew Buckle on 208.

England 's Lee Westwood looms as a threat as well after finishing his third round with a 68 and sixth place on 210, four behind Scott.

"It was a good finish this morning, I don't know how I did it. It puts me in a good position," said Scott, who is aiming for an Asian double following his win at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing earlier this season.

"I came back out on 15, had a wedge in to four feet and made it. On 16, I put a three wood on the fairway, a wedge to 20 feet and made a nice putt there. On 18, I hit a driver, two iron and had two putts from the front of the green. It was a good two putts from a long way away. I'm pretty satisfied."

With another long wait in store this morning before his scheduled final round tee off at approximately 11am , Scott said he needed to avoid the rough at the challenging Serapong course if he is to win his third title of the year.

The popular Aussie, a hit in Singapore with the fans, was also feeling better from a bout of flu. "I got up at 5.45am this morning but I had a decent sleep last night and I'm feeling better," he said.

"You have to hit these fairways. On the back nine (in the third round), I missed a few and dropped a couple of bogeys. If I can hit the fairways, it eliminates the bogeys. Everything else feels good."

Edward Michaels leads by two on weather hit day

American Edward Michaels overcame a sore shoulder and a lengthy weather delay to position himself for a career high pay day at the US$2 million Singapore Open on Saturday.

Michaels, last year's Philippine Open champion, leads ' Asia 's Major by two strokes in six-under-par for the championship through 14 holes of his third round at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course.

A three and a half hour suspension of play because of a lightning storm in the afternoon meant that 15 players will return on Sunday morning to complete their third rounds.

Australia 's world number seven Adam Scott, battling a bout of flu, remained within striking distance - two off the pace alongside compatriot Andrew Buckle and American Anthony Kang.

The talented Scott was one-under for his round through 14 holes while Buckle, the overnight co-leader, was two-over for the day after stumbling with a bogey on six, followed by a costly double bogey on the par five seventh hole.

Last season's Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand birdied the 14th and 15th to move to three under for the championship, three behind Michaels while England's Lee Westwood stayed in touch with a battling round that included four birdies against three bogeys.

"There are a lot of good players behind me but I'll just keep on going. It's a really good opportunity and I will do my best and that's what this game is all about," said Michaels, who will resume his third round at the 15th tee tomorrow.

Michaels is playing through the pain barrier because of a ligament injury on his left shoulder but with a top prize of US$315,000 for the champion at stake, he is gritting his teeth.

"This stop and go (because of the weather disruption) is really hard on me. Tomorrow we tee off at 7.40 and I have to be at the locker at 5.30 in the morning to do these exercises to warm it up. Otherwise I can barely get it past my chest. It'll be a tough day but I'll be ready. If not for the Tour's physiotherapist (Sheilagh Anderson) here, I wouldn't be playing," said Michaels.

Chasing his third title of the year, the supremely talented Scott appears to be Michael's biggest threat on Sunday. The young Aussie nailed a glorious two iron to set up an eight-foot eagle on the fourth hole before going on to shoot two more birdies against a two bogeys.

"It is a little disappointing but it was a long day. I could have done a bit better but considering how I'm feeling, it's alright. I don't know what I have got but I've got something like flu … my body feels sore. I just need to finish this round off well, if I can get two birdies in the last four tomorrow, I'll be in really good shape to have a go on the final round," said Scott.

Former paratrooper Thongchai set himself up for a Sunday charge, nailing approach shots to seven and five feet at the 14th and 15th holes respectively to lie three back. "I am in quite a good position and have a chance to win. I played a lot better today than in the second round.

"I am not thinking about the Order of Merit (he is in second spot US$65,293 behind countryman Thaworn Wiratchant) during the tournament - I want to win it again but I am concentrating on the Singapore Open," said Thongchai.

Eruope's Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood matched Thongchai's birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, draining putts of 18 and 25 feet to remain on the fringe of contention in Asia's richest national Open. "I rolled in a few putts after the rain delay. I have still got half a chance of winning. Anything can happen with a day to go - who knows?," said Westwood.

Australian Alistair Presnell shot a superb 67 for the clubhouse lead at one-over-par 214. Only nine players are presently under par for the championship.

Third round scores

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

207 - Edward Michaels (USA) 69-67-71

208 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-73-68, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 71-65-72

209 - Mahal Pearce (NZL) 68-70-71

210 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-71-68

211 - Anthony Kang (USA) 67-72-72, Ted Oh (KOR) 69-70-72

212 - Nick O'Hern (AUS) 71-68-73

214 - Alistair Presnell (AUS) 75-72-67

215 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 71-73-71, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 74-69-72, Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 70-73-72, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 67-74-74, Arjun Singh (IND) 71-70-74

216 - Mike Capone (USA) 72-75-69, Prom Meesawat (THA) 73-71-72, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 70-73-73, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 71-70-75

217 - Gerry Norquist (USA) 73-74-70, Unho Park (AUS) 75-72-70, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 73-74-70, Chris Travers (AUS) 72-74-71, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 71-74-72, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-71-75

218 - Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 74-73-71, Rick Gibson (CAN) 76-70-72, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 72-71-75, Sung Mao-Chang (TPE) 72-70-76, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-68-77, Marcus Both (AUS) 69-72-77

219 - Angelo Que (PHI) 69-79-71, Corey Harris (USA) 73-74-72, Digvijay Singh (IND) 75-72-72, Danny Chia (MAS) 69-77-73, Scott Strange (AUS) 73-69-77

220 - David Bransdon (AUS) 74-74-72, Ashok Kumar (IND) 72-76-72, Jason Knutzon (USA) 73-73-74, Matt Keegan (AUS) 73-73-74, Kao Bo-song (TPE) 74-72-74, Craig Parry (AUS) 70-74-76

221 - Eddie Lee (NZL) 76-72-73, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 74-74-73, Keith Horne (RSA) 71-77-73, Paul Marantz (AUS) 74-74-73, Ron Won (USA) 74-74-74, Ronnachai Jamnong (THA) 72-75-74, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-75-74, John Wither (SCO) 70-76-75, Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 74-72-75, Chris Williams (RSA) 74-72-75, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 77-68-76, Guido van der Valk (NDL) 74-70-77, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 70-73-78

222 - Pat Giles (AUS) 74-74-74, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 71-77-74, Bryan Saltus (USA) 78-70-74, Jason Dawes (AUS) 75-72-75, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 77-70-75

223 - Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 75-73-75, Uttam Singh Mundy (IND) 75-73-75, Clay Devers (USA) 75-73-75, Adam Groom (AUS) 71-76-76, Dean Alaban (AUS) 71-74-78

224 - Andrew Pitts (USA) 72-76-76, Somkiat Srisangsa (THA) 72-73-79

225 - Mike Cunning (USA) 73-75-77, Richard Lee (NZL) 77-70-78, Craig Warren (AUS) 70-77-78, Danny Zarate (PHI) 75-71-79, Edward Loar (USA) 68-77-80

227 - Martin Doyle (AUS) 75-73-79, Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 73-75-79

230 - Robin Hodgetts (AUS) 76-72-82, M. Murugiah (SIN) 74-72-84

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