The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Four more join Gangjee at the top

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

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Sport - Golf

Four more join Gangjee at the top

BEIJING, MAY 1. Welshman Phillip Price birdied three of his last four holes on Saturday to share a five-way joint lead heading into the final round of the inaugural China Masters.

Price, a late replacement for an injured Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, carded a five-under-par 67 at Beijing's Pine Valley Golf Club, finishing his third round by chipping in for birdie at the last hole.

Overnight leader Rahil Gangjee of India bogeyed the 18th hole for a two-under-70 to join Price at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under-205. They are joined by Australians Kim Felton and Adam Groom, and Korea's Kang Wook-soon.

Australian rookie Richard Moir is one shot behind.

"I've been looking like I was going to play well all day," said Price, a member of Europe's 2002 Ryder Cup-winning team. "I hit lots of good shots but didn't make any putts on the front nine. I thought on the back nine, it was inevitable that a few putts would drop in.

"If I keep playing like I'm doing, I can shoot a really low score (tomorrow)," he said.

Pre-tournament favourite Nick Faldo of England carded an even-par 72 Saturday to sit eight off the pace in 34th spot.

Ian Woosnam of Wales made amends for a disappointing first two rounds to shoot an impressive 66 and hold a combined 212.

China's Zhang Lian-wei scored 69 in a round that included six birdies, one bogey and a double bogey to lie two off the pace in joint seventh place with Koreas Mo Joong-kyung, American Jason Knutzon and Alistair Presnell of Australia.

Felton and Groom carded rounds of 68 and 69 respectively in the chase for their first wins on the Asian Tour.

"I hit it into the water on 11 for bogey but came back strongly with some nice shots. I hit a nice four iron to 10 feet on the par five 13th for eagle which was nice. I played pretty good coming in and then holed one from the trap on 16 for birdie. It's good to be up there. It's good to be getting a bit of nerves again," said Felton. — AP

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