David Howell leads with record score

Howell, the leader of the European Tour Order of Merit, held his nerves to score a six-under-par 66 at the Yalong Bay Golf Club ahead of second placed Andrew Buckle of Australia, who returned a 65.

Howell's 23-under-par total 193 in the Asian Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned event equals the low 54 holes record on the Asian Tour held by Ernie Els posted at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic.

Buckle, sixth on the UBS Order of Merit, remained firmly on course for his maiden title on the Asian Tour when he fired eight birdies against a lone bogey while Sweden 's Johan Edfors will enter tomorrow's final round two strokes adrift after scoring the day's lowest of 63.

England's Nick Dougherty, runner-up in the OSIM Singapore Masters, shot up nine rung when he hit a brilliant 64 for fourth place, four off the lead, while India's Jeev Milkha Singh, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour, kept his hopes alive as he is fifth after a strong 66.

First round co-leader Edward Loar of the United States was down in sixth place, six strokes off the pace after a 68. Thailand 's highest placed golfer Prayad Marksaeng and Swedish talent Joakim Haeggman scored matching 68s for equal seventh position.

Defending champion Paul Casey of England ended his round strongly after striking a string of seven birdies on the back nine coupled with a bogey and double-bogey. He had previously scored two birdies and a double bogey on the front nine.

Thai ace Thaworn Wiratchant, last season's Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, was amongst the biggest movers when he finished the third round with a 65 and was tied 25 th together with India 's Rahil Gangjee who struck a 69.

But it was a day of sheer delight for Howell who battled the fiery Buckle as he heads into the fourth round with the title closer in sight.

“It was a little hard work to be honest,” admitted Howell.

“Andrew played fantastically well and put the pressure on me. He wasn't going to let up. He played beautifully round the front nine. I just didn't get going. All in all is was a bit of a struggle. But I said to myself the first two days had been so easy really just stay patient and try and shoot 67 and I managed to beat that by one in the end so delighted with a 66,” said Howell, who clinched the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai when he defeated world number one Tiger Woods last November.

“My caddie and I thought about what we would need yesterday and thought 30 under would be near the number. That was my goal starting this morning, not only to have a chance to win the tournament but that is a pretty meteoric number to get for four rounds of golf. You are not going to many opportunities in life to do that so I think 65 tomorrow would give me a chance of winning the tournament with a stylish number,” said Howell.

Buckle, who started the day two-strokes back, commenced the third round brilliantly when he birdied the first hole followed by a massive 20 foot putt at the third hole and closed the gap through two more birdies on the seventh and ninth holes.

The young Aussie was leveled with Howell, who played the front nine 34. Buckle, a former World Junior Amateur champion, took a two-stroke lead through birdies at the11 and 12 holes.

Buckle said: “The more you play with the better players, especially with them in the same group you feed off them a bit. You get a gist of where you are and it is good for us when they come over to play these tournaments as we learn a lot from them and it is good testing yourself against these sort of players.”

In a dramatic turn of events, Howell struck back when he eagled the par five 13 th hole through a huge 35 foot putt while Buckle could only salvage a par.

“I played very well and ended up with 65 so I am happy. I was just trying to concentrate on my own game and add the scores up at the end of the day. It gives you confidence if you are playing well,” added Buckle.

Buckle dropped his second shot of the tournament in the 15 th hole as Howell tackled the greens and hit a lengthy 30 foot birdie putt at the 16 th hole to regain the lead. Both players ended the day strongly with birdies in the final hole.