Sweden&aposs Alexander Noren holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Ballantine&aposs Championship in Seoul, as Wade Ormsby battled. Noren&aposs consistent tournament at the Blackstone Golf Club continued on Saturday, as he carded a three-under 69. That helped him to an overall score of nine under, enough to give him a slender advantage ahead of Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and Scot Peter Whiteford, who are both tied for second at the European Tour event. Ormsby had shared the overnight lead, but he dropped back to a share of eighth at five under following a two-over 74, level with world number seven Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa. Noren entered the third day of the tournament full of confidence after a blemish-free 67 on Friday, and he kept up his good form with four birdies in another composed round of golf. The 30-year-old who has recorded four top-20 finishes in his six tournaments this year finished strongly, with three birdies from his final seven holes giving him the overall lead. Noren also has a good record at the Ballantine&aposs Championship, finishing seventh last year and fifth in 2011, and said he was pleased with his putting performance. “My short game I think held it together today,” Noren said. “I didn&apost have that many chances, but I took care of them when I got chances for birdies and made the important pars when I needed. So it was a big fight today.” Larrazabal backed up consecutive rounds of 70 with a four-under 68, helped by six birdies, while Whiteford shot a 69 thanks to some impressive form on the back nine. Australian pair Brett Rumford and Marcus Fraser are locked in a tie for fourth, two shots off the lead. Rumford&aposs round was particularly notable as he finished with five successive birdies to charge up the leaderboard. Frenchman Romain Wattel and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara are tied for sixth at six under. Thailand&aposs Arnond Vongvanij, who was also a co-leader after day two, had a poor day and his four-over 76 has seen him slip down the leaderboard into a tie for 15th, six shots off the lead. Defending champion Bernd Wiesberger of Austria is tied for 25th, seven shots adrift of Noren.
Author: Omnisport