Simon Yates of Scotland fired a course-best nine-under-par 61 to lead the UBS Hong Kong Open as records tumbled on Saturday.
European Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie was just two shots back as play continued in the $1,2-million co-sanctioned tournament.
Yates ran in a birdie hat-trick from holes two to four at the redesigned, par-70 Hong Kong Golf Club and had four in his last four holes to finish the third round on 11-under-par 199.
The record was the second of the day after Dutchman Maarten Lafeber’s 63, which was matched by Ireland’s Damien McGrane.
It represented a dramatic change in fortunes for Yates, who on Friday saw a hole in one jump out of the cup on the par-three 12th.
”This is normally my unlucky shirt,” said Yates, pointing to his red top.
”Every time I put on this shirt it’s normally two or three over so I thought I was going to dump it but it changed my luck today.
”I thought my luck was out when I hit the pin at eight but I came back on the last nine.
”It’s perfect scoring conditions out there. It’s not a long course but I was lucky — I got four birdies at the end and made a nice round into a really great round.”
Meanwhile Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen triumphed where Yates failed by acing the 12th — and walked off with a gold bar worth $15 000 from sponsors UBS.
James Kingston of South Africa fired a sizzling 64 to take provisional second spot alongside Montgomerie, matching the scores of KJ Choi and Oliver Wilson, who shared provisional sixth with Lafeber. – Sapa-AFP