Saturday, October 31, 2009

Poulter lets Singapore lead slip

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-8 I Poulter (Eng), T Levet (Fra), K Ichihara (Jpn) -7 A Dodt (aus), L Weng-chong (Chi) -6 L Weng-Tang (Tai), R Finch (Eng), N Fasth (Swe)
Selected others:-5 E Els (SA) -4 D Chopra

Ian Poulter
Poulter's poor start to his third round undid his fine second

Ian Poulter's five-stroke halfway lead at the Singapore Open disappeared after just six holes before an approaching thunderstorm saw play suspended.

Poulter earlier completed a fine seven-under-par 64 second round on the third day of the weather-affected event.

But two bogeys and a disastrous double-bogey got the Englishman's third round off to an awful start at Sentosa.

France's Thomas Levet and Japan's Kodai Ichihara caught up with him on eight under before play was halted.

Poulter looked to already have one hand on the trophy after hitting seven birdies in flawless second round to lead by five from Sweden's Daniel Chopra and qualifier Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei.

But after three putting the first to card an opening bogey, he opted to use a fairway wood from the greenside bunker on the fourth and only managed to find the water.

606: DEBATE

Following a drop, he finally made the green in four before three putting from 60ft to see his lead cut further.

On the sixth green, Poulter faced a 6ft putt to maintain his lead but was unable to convert shortly before the approaching storms sent the players back to the clubhouse.

China's Liang Wen-chong and Australia's Andrew Dodt played their front nines in two under to claim a share for fourth at seven under.

Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, Richard Finch and Sweden's Niclas Fasth tied for sixth a further shot off the pace.

Anders Hansen, Ross McGowan, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell completed the top 10 at five under.

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