Belgians grab big 3rd-round lead
MELBOURNE, Australia — A pair of twenty-somethings named Thomas has Belgium on the cusp of its first victory in the World Cup of Golf.
Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry had a midround stretch of 5-underpar in four holes for a 9under 63 Saturday to give Belgium a five-stroke lead after three rounds.
Pieters, 26, and the 25year-old 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.
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 19under 197.
“We combined pretty well in the first foursomes, hopefully we can do the same on Sunday,” said Pieters.
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.
“We struggled all day today,” said An. “But we had a birdie on 18 so tomorrow we just need to keep the momentum going.”
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.
England’s team of Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter shot 67.
Americans Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley, who were one of the weather casualties on Friday with a 79, improved to a 66 Saturday but were 14 strokes off the lead and in 21st place.
HONG KONG OPEN
HONG KONG — Aaron Rai shot a 2-under 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 on 16-under 194 after four birdies and two bogeys. Rai — who wears gloves on both hands while playing — shot a courserecord 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.
Sergio Garcia is a shot further back after hitting five birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the par-4 10th for a 6-under 64. The Spaniard is fourth with Australia’s Jason Scrivener (67).