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Jimenez takes share of lead in Korea

Golf: Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez produced a flawless front nine to move into a share of the lead with Australian Brett Rumford…

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain plays his second shot on the 18th hole at the Ballantine's Championship at Blackstone Golf Club on April 29, 2011 in Icheon, South Korea. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain plays his second shot on the 18th hole at the Ballantine's Championship at Blackstone Golf Club on April 29, 2011 in Icheon, South Korea. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Sat Apr 30 2011 - 01:00

Golf:Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez produced a flawless front nine to move into a share of the lead with Australian Brett Rumford at the Ballantine's Championship before bad weather brought the third round to a halt for the day.

Jimenez, who opened with back-to-back birdies, was three under par through nine holes to join overnight leader Rumford on 10 under overall by the time heavy rain and the threat of lightning forced the abandonment of play.

Australian Rumford, who led by three shots overnight, was level par through nine after a bogey and a birdie.

Welshman Rhys Davies and Scotland's Richie Ramsey were also handily placed on eight and seven under respectively, while world number one Lee Westwood moved back into contention; birdies at the first and second holes putting him on two under through 12 to lie six under.

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Jimenez was delighted with his start to the third round. "I played very well the first nine holes, hitting it very well - no bogeys, three birdies," said the Spaniard. "I birdied the first and second hole, played very well on those two holes. Tomorrow I play 27 holes. I feel good, I feel fine. Tomorrow is a marathon."

Rumford admitted he found the going tough as he saw his lead wiped out. "There were some tricky pins out there today," he said. They were placed up on the top part of all the tiers and ridges and it was pretty tricky trying to get on the right tier.

"You had to be very, very precise. I stayed patient and hit some nice golf shots, but unfortunately just kept hitting nice golf shots to about 40, 50 feet."

Davies had three birdies in his first five holes before a bogey at the sixth provided his first setback. Ramsey was also on track for an impressive round, three under through 13 to sit in a group of seven on seven under.

Ireland's Shane Lowry made a bold move of his own to be four under with one hole to play to join Westwood on six under.

Damien McGrane was two shots further back on four under after playing 10 holes in two over. Gareth Maybin was two under with two holes to play - level for the day.

Paul McGinley had a tough day and was six over after 11 holes to drop back to three over, two ahead of Michael Hoey, who was four over on the day through 11.