NANSHAN, China, October 12 - Former Open champion Darren Clarke, seeking his first tournament victory since lifting the Claret Jug at Royal St George's in 2011, fired a four-under-par 68 on Saturday to grab a share of the lead with home favorite and defending champion Liang Wenchong (70) after three rounds of OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters.
The pair are eight under around the 6,784-metre (7,419-yard) Montgomerie Course at Nanshan International Golf Club, two clear of Australian Scott Strange (69), Korean newcomer Kwon Sung-yeol (67) and up-and-coming China star Zhang Xinjun (72).
South African Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 U.S. Masters champion, is a shot further back after going four under on Saturday, alongside Australian Terry Pilkadaris (70) and New Zealander Gareth Paddison (73).
Rounding out the top ten are New Zealander Mark Brown (69), Australian Scott Laycock (69) and Indonesia's Rory Hie (72) who are one shot further back.
Clarke, 45, has not won since beating Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson by a stroke to claim his first Major, but he remains as hungry as ever for titles.
"There is pressure in any event -- it doesn't matter whether it's the Open Championship or here at the Nanshan China Masters," he said after starting the day two shots behind overnight leaders Liang, Zhang and Paddison.
"I've practised really hard these last couple of years since I've won the Open and just not been able to get the scores. Obviously I'd be delighted to win tomorrow, but there's 18 holes of golf to go and a lot of talent there or thereabouts at the top of the leader board."
Liang ended a two-year-victory drought of his own in claiming last year's tournament -- beating Major winner Y.E. Yang in a thrilling sudden-death play-off that went to five holes -- and the four-time OneAsia champion will not give up his title without a fight.
"He is a very respected player and as the local I'm ready to face his challenge and will try my best to play well," said Liang.
The surprise package of the third round came in the form of Kwon, playing in his first OneAsia event after finishing 20th at Q-School in January.
The 27-year-old, a close friend of his more illustrious countrymen Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae, has not yet seen his amateur talent transfer to the professional ranks, a journey interrupted by nearly two years of national service that only ended in December.
"It's my first time to visit China and also my first OneAsia event, but I am calm and stable," he said. "When I was doing my national service, I was really thirsty for golf. That is what has motivated me in Korea this year."
Schwartzel continues to be frustrated by his ball striking despite his best round of the tournament and says he will dig deep for inspiration.
"To have these sort of weeks frustrates me a lot because I know I can play a lot better -- especially on a golf course like this where you should be a lot more under par," he said.
"On the brighter side, at least I'm not far behind. We all know the game and sometimes it changes overnight so hopefully I can find something that will get me through tomorrow and let me hit the ball the way I know I can and at least give Darren a run."
Korean Kim Bi-o, winner of the inaugural Nanshan China Masters in 2011 and the reigning Order of Merit champion, is four over for the tournament after shooting a 74, while first-round leader Eric Mina (75), top of the class at OneAsia's Q-School in California in January, and Indonesia's George Gandranata (72) are two strokes better off.
Scores after round three of the Nanshan China Masters being played at the 6,784-metre (7,419 -yard) par-72 Montgomerie Course at the Nanshan International Golf Club:
208 - Darren CLARKE (NIR) 72-68-68, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 74-64-70
210 - KWON Sung-yeol (KOR) 73-70-67, Scott STRANGE (AUS) 72-69-69, ZHANG Xin-jun (CHN) 71-67-72
211 - Charl SCHWARTZEL (RSA) 71-72-68, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-70-70, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 69-69-73
212 - Mark BROWN (NZL) 71-72-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-73-69, Rory HIE (INA) 75-65-72
Selected:
218 - George GANDRANATA (INA) 75-71-72
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