Saturday, November 29, 2008

Australia share lead at World Cup

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-22 Spain, Australia -18 Sweden -17 Germany -15 Ireland
-14 USA, Japan
Selected others: -10 England -7 Scotland -2 Wales

Brendan Jones and Richard Green
The Australian duo picked up nine shots to share the lead

Australia's Richard Green and Brendan Jones shot a nine-under-par 63 to share the lead with Spain after the third round of the World Cup in China.

Jones holed from four feet for a birdie at the last, while Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez missed a six-foot birdie chance as both teams finished on 22 under.

Swedes Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson, the two highest ranked players in the event, are four back in second.

Following Saturday's fourballs, the last round on Sunday will be foursomes.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley are seven behind the leaders on 15 under after a round of 68 at the Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen.

English duo Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher matched Australia's 63 to move into a share of 12th place, 12 shots back.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forysth are three shots behind England after a round of 68 while Welsh pair Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson are second last on 214 after a 68.

Spain were three strokes clear of the Australians midway through the round when Jimenez holed a wedge shot from 50 yards.

Ross Fisher
England's Ross Fisher plays a shot at the panoramic Mission Hills Resort

But by the 15th the teams were level when Jones put a 180-yard nine-iron to five feet and sank the putt for an eagle.

Jimenez found the water and partner Pablo Larrazabal also bogeyed.

"Tomorrow we won't play that hole," Jimenez quipped. The Spaniard was still confident about his team's chances when the tournament concludes with the alternate shot foursomes format.

"We are still leading," the 43-year-old said. "So we know if we play like Friday we are going to win the tournament. So that's all."

There are five Australian players in the world's top 50, but all declined to compete this week, with numbers 59 and 64 Green and Jones taking the invitation.

Jones was delighted to be in the limelight, having been aware the event had failed to grab public attention down under.

606: DEBATE

One press report in Australia referred to him as Brendan James, and he said: "We have got something to prove to the press back home. We might not be the most famous of the Australian players, but we are backing our ability.

"We are in a good position, and who knows, we might get a line on the fifth back page tomorrow in the papers."

Of his eagle at Mission Hills he said: "I actually got some chills up the back of my spine when the crowd sort of thought it was a pretty decent shot and they all cheered."

The best round of the day came from France who improved on their Friday round by 13 shots and carded a 62 to earn sole possession of 11th.

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