Rai extends lead to six strokes, closes in on maiden European Tour title at HK Open
>> HONG KONG: Aaron Rai stands on the brink of a first European Tour victory after the Briton shot a two-under-par 70 yesterday to extend his Hong Kong Open lead to six strokes with just one round to play.
Rai, who started the day leading by four shots after hitting a courserecord 61 on Friday, increased his advantage by a further two shots to reach 16-under 194 for the opening three rounds at Fanling.
The 23-year-old Rai, who wears gloves on both hands while playing, had seen his lead reduced to a single shot by Park Hyo-Won by the time he reached the turn, but a run of three birdies over eight holes and a backnine implosion by the South Korean ultimately increased his advantage.
While a bogey at the last will have given his pursuers a glimmer of hope, victory today and a US$333,330 purse would represent the biggest win of Rai’s career, with the Englishman having previously claimed three wins on the Challenge Tour.
Leading the chasing pack is 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, who moved into a share of second place alongside fellow Briton Matthew Fitzpatrick thanks to a four-under round of 66.
Sergio Garcia, meanwhile, shot the best round of the day, a six-underpar 64, to sit in fourth after his trek around Fanling included an eagle at the par-four 10th, with the Spaniard driving the green before sinking a sixfoot putt.
However, the 2017 US Masters champion is seven shots adrift of Rai alongside Park and Jason Scrivener from Australia on nine under for the tournament.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee showed he still can match up against the best players from Asia and Europe despite recently turning 49.
The three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion signed for a 66 to tie France’s Victor Perez for sixth place.
With South Korea’s Park SangHyun making his early exit from the tournament, India’s Shubhankar Sharma could extend his merit lead, returning with a 67 to share 12th place while close rival, Justin Harding of South Africa fired a 67 for tied20th place.
Reigning Masters champions Patrick Reed fell completely out of contention when his one-under-par 69 saw him drop into a share for 53rd with a three-round total of 209, one under for the tournament.