Belgium team leads World Cup

A pair of twenty-somethings named Thomas has Belgium on the cusp of its first victory in the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, Australia.

Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry had a mid-round stretch of 5-under-par in four holes for a 9-under 63 Saturday to give Belgium a fivestroke lead after three rounds.

Pieters, 26, and Detry, 25, 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 on Friday.

On Saturday, they took advantage — along with the 27 other teams — of much improved weather conditions at Metropolitan and the fourballs (best-ball) game.

Belgium, which completed the front nine with two birdies and an eagle, then birdied the 10th, had a three-round total of 19-under 197.

“We combined pretty well in the first foursomes, hopefully we can do the same on Sunday,” Pieters said.

Detry added: “We were making some good putts. And it’s always nice when you know your partner’s playing some great golf, it gives you a lot of confidence.”

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-5 14th when both players had balls run back down off the green from slopes just off the putting surface, but recovered for a 66.

“It was tough, but Renato did great and we bounced back,” Pavan said.

South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and Si Woo Kim shot 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 carded a 65.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Aaron Rai shot a 2under 68 in the third round to extend his lead from four to six strokes at the Hong Kong Open.

The 23-year-old Englishman is at 16-under 194 after four birdies and two bogeys. Rai shot a course-record 61 at Hong Kong Golf Club on Friday.

“Nothing is ever done until it’s done and 18 holes is a lot of golf, a six-shot lead, a 10-shot lead, anything can happen,” said Rai, who is looking for his first European Tour win.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (68) and 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood (66) share second place, six off the pace at 10-under.