Chinese cheers help Lawrie move into contention
in Shenzhen PETER LAWRIE felt like he was competing in front of a cheering Irish home crowd as he put on a superb scoring display during the third day of the Volvo China Open in Shenzhen yesterday.
Lawrie birdied his closing three holes in a round of a four under par 68 for a seven-under tally in the co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour event.
The Dubliner, contestinghis first event of the 2006 European season, heads into today’s closing round in joint-eighth place, just four strokes behind British tour rookie Ross Fisher, who birdied four of his final seven holes to move into the lead on 11- under par.
Lawrie played the third round in the company of Chinese number one Lian-Wei Zhang, who earlier this year became the first Chinese-born golfer to compete in the US Masters.
Zhang had an eagle and five birdies for a 66, much to the delight of his legions of fans on his home Shenzhen course.
‘‘There was some remarkable cheering going on for both Zhang and myself, although they were a very partisan following,’’ said Lawrie. ‘‘It was like playing in an Irish Open, only that I was the Chinese guy and he wasn’t,” he joked.
“It was just nice that I could birdie my closing three holes. I hit a nine iron to just two inches at the 17th — that would have been a great eagle — but I am right in the mix now after this round and that’s nice in my very first event on the 2006 schedule.
‘‘ I have been driving the ball great this week and now I only need to get the putter working on the final day.’’
Lawrie travelled to China from Japan where he missed the cut in last week’s Dunlop Phoenix Open, although the Dubliner revealed he nearly decided not to compete in the event after his five-week old daughter, Jessica, had been taken again to hospital a day before his intended departure to the Far East.
‘‘We have been in and out of the hospital with her a few times since I last played in Valderrama, and it’s been a real worry,’’ said Lawrie.
‘‘ She wasn’t keeping herfood down, so it was difficult travelling to Japan because we took her back to the hospital on Saturday and I was heading out to Japan on the Sunday. But she’s much better and doing okay; my wife, Philippa, has done a great job.”
Gary Murphy, meanwhile, slumped to last place of the 67 players who made the halfway cut. Murphy, who commenced his third round on one-under, posted a 77 that included five bogeys, a double bogey and two birdies for a four over par tally.
Ireland’s other three China Open entrants, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and David Higgins, spent the day practising after missing the cut and will head across the nearby Hong Kong border today to prepare for the Hong Kong Open which starts on Thursday.
In the meantime, Lawrie will be hoping for a slip up from Fisher, the rookie from Surrey who turned 25 on the eve of the $US1.3m tournament. Yesterday, Fisher overhauled compatriot Oliver Wilson and Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol, who are tied in second spot on 10under par.
A win today would earn him a two-year Tour exemptionand ¤184,500 in prizemoney, a prospect that clearly excites him. ‘‘It’s very much un-chartered territory, but I have been working my way towards something like this since I was first introduced to golf at age three,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been pretty cool to see my name at the top of the leader board and it would be an awesome birthday present if I was to win the event.’’
Meanwhile, Robert Allenby moved into a five stroke lead at the Australian Open, but may be forced out of today’s final round due to a hand injury.
The US-based Australian has been troubled by an inflamed right hand and the injury resurfaced yesterday when he tried to close a door on one of the on-course toilets.
“The nerve went in my middle finger. I had no power, no feeling. I can’t guarantee I’ll be here tomorrow,” said Allenby.
Paul Sheehan, a regular on the Asian tour, is in second place on four under after firing a 72 while Nick O’Hern, Aaron Baddeley and Rod Pampling are tied for third at three under.