Finch leads as McGinley fades

Volvo China Open:Richard Finch will take a one-shot lead going into tomorrow's final round at the Volvo China Open after six consecutive birdies around the turn proved the cornerstone of a blistering third-round 66.

Paul McGinley slipped out of contention as, after briefly sharing the lead following two early birdies, a poor chip lead to a double-bogey seven on the ninth and three more dropped shots coming in saw the Irishman fall to even par.

Having bogeyed the sixth, Finch picked up six shots over the next six holes at Beijing CBD International GC to charge to the top of the leaderboard before another birdie on the 16th saw him finish eight-under, one shot ahead of playing partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who shot a four-under 68.

Ashley Hall lies third on five-under having equalled the course record with a 65 earlier in the day alongside Markus Brier, who carded a one-under 71.

“I’m really delighted with the round today,” Finch said. “It was a slow start even though I was happy with how I was playing and then all of a sudden I seemed to get on a really good run.

“Obviously making six birdies in a row made it into a really nice day and then to pick up an extra one on the way in at the 16th was really good, so really pleased with the round.

“However, we’re three quarters of the way through the tournament and there’s another quarter to go so things can change quickly and one shot’s not a huge lead by any means.”

Starting the day on two-under and four shots behind overnight leader Choi ho-sung, five pars and a bogey at the sixth left Finch’s challenge seemingly hanging in the balance.

But the 31-year-old from Hull responded in fine fashion as he embarked on a run of six birdies from the seventh to revive his chances of capturing a third European Tour title at the co-sanctioned event.

Fernandez-Castano kept pace with his playing partner, however, and an eagle at the 13th left the Spaniard level at the top of the leaderboard with Finch on seven-under.

A birdie at the next helped Fernandez-Castano eke out a one-stroke advantage over his good friend before the par-three 16th saw their roles reversed.

Fernandez-Castano hit his tee shot through the back of the green while Finch’s landed 20 feet from the pin. The Spaniard chipped back to around 10 feet but missed his putt right of the hole while the Englishman’s dropped into the cup and he took the lead outright.

Fernandez-Castano bogeyed the next to hand Finch a two-shot cushion but claimed what could prove to be a crucial birdie at the last to set-up what undoubtedly will prove a tense and dramatic final day.

“It was a good day and I was so happy to make that birdie at the last because the two bogeys in the previous two holes almost killed my round,” Fernandez-Castano said.

“We had a lot of fun out there today Richard and I. We played a lot of amateur golf together and we are good friends but at the same time there is a little rivalry there which is good. He made a great run of birdies and that got me going and gave me some momentum.”

Hall, meanwhile, fired himself into contention after exploiting near-perfect morning conditions to collect six birdies and an eagle in his seven-under-par effort and equal the course record set by New Zealander Mark Brown barely an hour earlier.

Rounds of 75 and 71 had left Hall well off the pace at two over but now the 25-year-old Australian finds himself well in the mix.

Four players are tied at for fifth at four under par including Simon Dyson, who shot a two-under 70, and the 31-year-old feels he is still very much in contention.

“It’s such a weird game, anything can happen out there. Finchy only needs to make a double somewhere and I birdie it and you’re back to two so still a lot to play for,” he said.

Dyson was level with Englishman David Dixon, who carded an impressive 67, Thai star Chapchai Nirat and Australian Scott Strange.

Choi, meanwhile, endured a mixed day as four birdies were offset by seven bogeys to leave the Korean three-under alongside three other players including Brown.