Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh rode on his new-found confidence to fire a superb six-under-par 66 on Saturday for joint-third round lead with India's Digvijay Singh at the Crowne Plaza Open, in Beijing on Saturday.
The 42-year-old Lu produced a magnificent ball-striking display that yielded six birdies against no bogeys at the Grand Epoch City Golf Club to tie with co-overnight leader Singh on five-under-par 211 in the US $200,000 Asian Tour event.
Third at last week's Mercuries Taiwan Masters and with six other top-15 finishes in the bag this season, Lu, currently 14th on the Order of Merit, will be aiming to snap a seven-year winless run against a co-leader, who is searching for his career breakthrough.
The 33-year Singh dropped a bogey at the last hole to fall into a tie with Lu after returning a 71. The Indian lamented a cold putter as two of his three bogeys were results of three putts while he missed a hatful of other birdie chances.
The final round promises to be an exciting shoot-out as Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, Australian Marcus Both and talented Indian rookie Shiv Kapur are one stroke adrift in third place on 212, while Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuan-chi, Australia's Alistair Presnell and Thailand's promising Prom Meesawat are two strokes off the lead.
The experienced Lu, however, is determined to end his long, winless run after a superb iron display which set up easy birdie conversions at the fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 17th holes.
"I only missed one green and all my putts were from close range. The longest putts were on five and six from eight feet," said Lu.
"I've been playing reasonably well this season and I've just tried to remain patient on the golf course and let things happen. I like this course here this week, so that makes it easier for me."
Singh was poised for the sole lead but dropped a third bogey of the day on the 18th with a wayward drive.
"I deserved that bogey," said Singh, who has won eight times on the Indian domestic circuit.
"My putting deserted me as I missed so many short putts out there including a two-footer for birdie on number 12 and a couple more five-footers. I think I wanted to hole out too badly that it affected me, so tomorrow, I'm just going to think about making a good stroke."
Prayad 39, will also be looking to win on the Asian Tour again after his last triumph in 2000. The smooth-swinging Thai fired an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys for a 70 to move into contention. The last time the stocky Thai came close to winning was last season at the Volvo Masters of Asia in Kuala Lumpur.
Kapur, the 2002 Asian Games gold medallist, carded a fine 68 to cruise into contention with 2003 Sanya Open winner Both, who returned a 71.
There will be plenty to play for as the winner will also enjoy an exemption into the lucrative HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai next month which world number one Tiger Woods has confirmed his entry.
Zheng Wen-gen and Liang Wen-chong finished the third round as the best-placed Chinese golfers at tied 14th place on 216 alongside current Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who stumbled to a 75. Zheng carded a 70 while Liang was one stroke higher.
Leading third round scores
211 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 74-71-66, Digvijay Singh (IND) 68-72-71
212 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 74-70-68, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 72-70-70, Marcus Both (AUS) 72-69-71
213 - Chen Yuan-chi (TPE) 77-70-66, Alistair Presnell (AUS) 74-69-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-71-71
214 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 76-69-69, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 74-71-69, Guido Van Der Valk (NDL) 73-71-70
215 - Larry Austin (AUS) 72-76-67, Darren Griff (CAN) 74-73-68
216 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 73-73-70, Zheng Wen-Gen (CHN) 73-73-70, Ron Won (USA) 74-72-70, Olle Nordberg (SWE) 75-70-71, Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 74-71-71, Jason Dawes (AUS) 72-71-73, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-72-75
217 - Lin Chie-Hsiang (TPE) 74-74-69, Kurt Barnes (AUS) 75-73-69, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 79-69-69, Lai Hung-lin (TPE) 75-71-71, Eiji Mizoguchi (JPN) 76-70-71, Pat Giles (AUS) 73-71-73, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 76-68-73, Rafael Ponce (ECU) 74-68-75.
