HONG KONG, 7 December 2003 — Sweden’s Christopher Hanell overshadowed Ireland’s Padraig Harrington by taking a surprise one-shot lead after the Hong Kong Open’s third round yesterday.
The 30-year-old Hanell fired a five-under-par 65 to finish at eight-under 202 in the opening event of the 2004 European Tour season.
However world No. 10 Harrington was one of several players to bogey the difficult par-four 18th, three-putting there for a 67 to slip back into a share of second place with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who carded a matching 67.
Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson returned a one-over-par 71 to finish in a group of four tied for fourth at six-under 206. Level with Jacobson was Britain’s Richard McEvoy, who began the day with a three-shot lead after leading the tournament for the first two rounds but fell back with a 74. Six-times major winner Nick Faldo of England finished in a tie for 18th at two-under 208 after a mixed round of 67 that included six birdies and three bogeys.
Ailing Allenby Stays Two Shots Clear at Australian Masters
In Melbourne, Local favorite Robert Allenby, although dogged by illness, grabbed a late birdie yesterday to maintain his two-stroke lead after the third round of the Australian Masters.
The world No. 18, struggling to shake off influenza and a temporary loss of hearing in his right ear, fired a level-par 72 for a three-round total of 10-under-par 206.
That left Allenby, a four-time winner on the US PGA Tour, two clear of young New South Wales amateur James Nitties, who carded a 66, and joint Australian PGA champion Jarrod Moseley, after a 69.
