Singapore, Jan 26: Ernie Els of South Africa bogeyed the last two holes but still held a 2-shot lead after the third round of the Singapore Masters on Saturday (January 25). The world number two, who is aiming to win his fourth successive tournament, shot a 2-under-par round of 70 for a 10-under total of 206. Two shots back was Zhang Lian Wei of China who shot 69, with Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand (69) and Scotland's Simon Yates (72) one shot further back. Els began the third round with a one-shot lead and looked to be taking control in the hot conditions when birdies at the 5th, 7th and 11th put him on 12-under, six clear of the field. However, the South African did not make another birdie and after struggling to make pars at the 14th and 15th, he dropped a shot at the par-3 17th after failing to find the green with his tee shot and then missed a short par putt at the 18th for another bogey. Zhang moved into contention with four birdies and a bogey in his 3-under round of 69, while Marksaeng made five birdies countered by two bogeys in his round.


Yates, who had begun the final round a shot behind Els, seemed to have dropped out of contention after bogeys at the 6th and 9th, but three birdies in the last four holes but him back to 7-under just three shots adrift.


Leading third round scores at the 900,000-USD Singapore Masters played at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club on Saturday (Britain unless stated): 206 Ernie Els (South Africa) 69 67 70 208 Zhang Lian Wei (China) 68 71 69 209 Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) 73 67 69, Simon Yates 68 69 72 211 Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 70 72 69, Mark Pilkington 70 72 69, Per G Nyman (Sweden) 68 76 67, Simon Khan 66 73 72, Lam Chih Beng (Singapore) 69 70 72 212 Jean Francois Remesy (France) 73 69 70, Nick O'Hern (Australia) 71 72 69, Fran Quinn (U.S.) 71 70 71, James Kingston (South Africa) 70 70 72, Thammanoon Srirot (Thailand) 70 69 73 213 Fredrik Widmark (Sweden) 69 72 72, Andrew Marshall 67 73 73, Arjun Atwal (India) 67 70 76 214 Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 65 77 72, Lin Keng Chi (Taiwan) 71 71 72, Jean Francois Lucquin (France) 73 69 72, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Denmark) 71 72 71, Stephen Dodd 70 71 73, John Bickerton 68 73 73, Jan Are Larsen (Norway) 71 70 73, Kenneth Ferrie 71 73 70, Kang Woon Sook (South Korea) 71 69 74, Ted Purdy (USA) 69 71 74, Markus Brier (Austria) 69 71 74

Bureau Report