Belgian pair lead big at World Cup
Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry had a mid-round stretch of five-under-par in four holes to post a nine-under 63 yesterday and give Belgium a five-stroke lead after three rounds of the World Cup of Golf.
Pieters and Detry, who both play on the European Tour, started the day level with South Korea after a steady 71 in terrible rainy conditions in the foursomes (alternate shot) format of Friday.
Yesterday, they took advantage – along with the 27 other teams – of much improved weather conditions at the Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne and the fourballs (best-ball) game.
Belgium, who completed the front nine with two birdies and an eagle, then birdied the 10th, had a three-round total of 19-under 197.
Three teams were tied for second – Mexico, Italy and South Korea.
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, who won last week’s Australian Open, and his partner Roberto Diaz, shot 65. Italy’s Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore dropped two shots on the par-five 14th when both players had balls run back down off the green from slopes just off the putting surface, but recovered for a 66. South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and Si Woo Kim, who chipped in for eagle from just off the green on the 16th, finished with a 68.
Three teams were tied for fifth – Sweden, Australia and England – six behind Belgium.
Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and Joakim Lagergren shot 64 and Australia’s Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith 65.
Kiwi pair Ryan Fox and Mark Brown shot 69 to finish the day in 19th at six-under.
Leishman and Smith let an opportunity slip on the back nine. They shot six-under 30 on the front nine – four birdies and an eagle – but had six pars to start the front nine before a birdie on 16.
‘‘Probably a story of two different nines,’’ Leishman said. ‘‘Got off to a great start obviously but cooled off a bit on the back nine.’’
England’s team of Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter shot 67.
The final round today will be played in the foursomes (alternate shot) format.
Bjork said he and Lagergren combined well to shoot one of the best rounds of the day.
‘‘When I was off, Joakim was on, and when he was off, I was on,’’ Bjork said.
Americans Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley, who were one of the weather casualties on Friday with a 79, improved to a 66 but were 14 strokes off the lead in 21st place.