Icheon, Korea: Sweden’s Alexander Noren overcame the testing conditions to take the third round lead with a deserving three-under-par 69 at the €2,205,000 (Approximately US$2.8 million) Ballantine’s Championship on Saturday.
Noren battled the gusty winds that swept through the Blackstone Golf Club all-day to post a three-day total of nine-under-par 207 for a one-shot lead over Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Scotland’s Peter Larrazabal who were tied for second place after they returned with 68 and 69 respectively.
2010 Ballantine’s Championship winner Marcus Fraser of Australia signed for a 69 to take a share of fourth place with countryman Brett Rumford on 209 total while Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij (75) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (75), who held the second round lead, will have to make up grounds after they slipped to a share of 10th and 15th place respectively.
Noren, who trailed the second round leaders by one, made his move with a birdie on the fourth hole.
The Swede dropped a shot on the par-four ninth but quickly asserted himself by storming home with a flawless inward-nine that was highlighted by birdies on holes 12, 14 and 18.
“It was a nice way to finish as it was a long and tough day. I also held my short game together very nicely,” said Noren.
“I didn't 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 out there today,” added the Swede.
While conditions were tough on a day where only 17 players broke par, Larrazabal is taking it in his stride and believes he can rise to the occasion on the final day, where it matters most.
“I've been here for six years and I love tough conditions. I love wind conditions, and I love tight pin positions. You know, I love to have fun that way,” said the Spaniard
“The winds on this golf course were very tough. We were up on a mountain and we had to play on both sides of the mountains. The winds were swirling around and you’ve to trust yourself and go for it,” added Larrazabal.
Fraser moved back into contention for his second Ballantine’s Championship win following his victory in 2010.
Starting his round, three shots back of the leaders in tied-13th, Fraser got off the blocks quickly with two birdies in three holes.
He birdied holes six and seven before a bogey-five on the ninth hole saw him turn in 33.
The Australian, who finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season, grabbed the outright lead at the 15th hole after another birdie but let it slipped away after dropping another shot on the closing 18th hole.
“It was a nice way to finish but there was certainly more good than bad in how I played today,” said Fraser.
“Given the conditions today, I’m happy to be in the position where I’m right now. I managed to hole several long putts to save par today and that was key,” added the Australian.
The sixth edition of the Ballantine’s Championship is the first event to be played in Korea on the Asian Tour this season and is once again sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korea PGA.
Leading Scores after round 3 of the Ballantine's Championship 2013 being played at the par 72, 7281 Yards Blackstone Gc course (a- denotes amateur):
207 - Alexander NOREN (SWE) 71-67-69.
208 - Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 70-70-68, Peter WHITEFORD (SCO) 70-69-69.
209 - Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 73-67-69, Marcus FRASER (AUS) 70-70-69.
210 - Romain WATTEL (FRA) 70-69-71, Jose Manuel LARA (ESP) 71-67-72.
211 - Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 69-71-71, Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 70-67-74.
212 - Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) 72-69-71, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 74-69-69, Simon DYSON (ENG) 71-72-69, Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) 68-71-73, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 71-66-75.
213 - Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 71-70-72, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 72-69-72, K.T. KIM (KOR) 74-68-71, Damien MCGRANE (IRL) 71-72-70, WU Ashun (CHN) 75-65-73, Magnus CARLSSON (SWE) 71-69-73, Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) 70-68-75, James MORRISON (ENG) 72-66-75, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 67-77-69, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 68-69-76.
Selected scores
214 - Scott HEND (AUS) 76-66-72, S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 71-70-73
215 - HU Mu (CHN) 72-69-74, Paul LAWRIE (SCO) 75-67-73
221 - Y.E. YANG (KOR) 70-72-79, Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 74-70-77.
