Lawrie and McDowell slip back in Malaysia
GOLF: Bernd Wiesberger moved two shots clear at the top of the Maybank Malaysian Open leaderboard with a stunning nine-under-par 63 in his third round.
The 29-year-old Austrian has been in brilliant form, recording three straight top-six finishes before this event, and he came flying out of the blocks with birdies on the first five holes in Kuala Lumpur.
Three consecutive birdies to finish handed Wiesberger the lowest score of his European Tour career and put him in the driving seat.
‘I caught up with the leaders early, which was good, and finished off well,’ he said. ‘I felt very comfortable out there and I didn’t even let the bogey (at the eighth) bother me.’
Ireland’s Graeme McDowell shot a 72 to slip to joint 18th on 5 under, while Peter Lawrie fell 20 places to 24th after a 75. Michael Hoey had a 68 while Paul McGinley fell to the back of the field with a 77.
Wiesberger (-17) led by two strokes from Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, who finished eagle-birdie-bogey for 68.
India’s Anirban Lahiri posted the round of the week – a 10-under-par 62 – to leap to fifth place.