Adrian Otaegui and Matt Wallace will head into Sunday’s final round with a share of the lead at the Volvo China Open.
Wallace, the 36-hole leader, was cruising along on Saturday in Beijing, and after a birdie on the 15th, the Englishman was in the lead at 13 under, but a bogey on No. 17 dropped him back to 12 under, alongside Spain’s Otaegui, who reeled off five-consecutive birdies (Nos. 8-12) en route to a bogey-free 5-under 67.
“Again it was frustrating but I’m playing really good golf so there’s not much else I can do. I’m playing really nicely, I’m hitting it long and straight and if I do that tomorrow I’ll have a few chances at birdie,” said Wallace, referring to his lone third-round blemish at Topwin Golf and Country Club.
“We’re tied for the lead so I’m pretty happy.”
Otaegui’s compatriot, Jorge Campillo, shot his second-straight 68 and was one back at 11 under as was Sweden’s Alexander Björk and Frenchman Julien Guerrier.
A co-low round of 65 saw Korea’s Jinho Choi move 29 spots up the leaderboard to T6 at 10 under par, alongside countryman Jeunghun Wang (68), Ireland’s Paul Dunne (67), Spaniard Nacho Elvira (70), American Sihwan Kim (70), and Italian Andrea Pavan (66).
Just three shots back was defending champion Alexander Levy, who matched Choi’s 65 to headlined a group of seven players at T12 and 9-under par.
In all, there were 18 players within three shots of the lead.
TOP 10 LEADERS
1 Adrian Otaegui -12
1 Matt Wallace -12
3 Alexander Bjork -11
3 Julien Guerrier -11
3 Jorge Campillo -11
6 Jin-ho Choi -10
6 Andrea Pavan -10
6 Paul Dunne -10
6 Jeunghun Wang -10
6 Sihwan Kim -10
6 Nacho Elvira -10
VIDEO: TOP SHOT
Australia’s Jason Norris with one hop and in for an eagle-2 on the par-4 15th hole.
QUOTABLE
“I’m playing really nicely, I’m hitting it long and straight and if I do that tomorrow I’ll have a few chances at birdie. We’re tied for the lead so I’m pretty happy.”
– Matt Wallace
