Han eyes Volvo China Open title

SHANGHAI, China (Agencies): Myanmar's Kyi Hla Han, who blew an excellent chance of claiming his first title on the Asian PGA Tour three weeks ago, will have another opportunity Sunday after taking the third round lead in the US$400,000 Volvo China Open.

Hong Kong-based Han carded a five-under-par 67 on Saturday at Shanghai Silport Golf Club to open a four-stroke on 11-under-par 205. He leads from Hong Kong's Scott Rowe, South African Des Terblanche, and American Dean Wilson.

Rowe fired 70, Terblanche 73 and Wilson 68.

Overnight leader Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand slipped back with a 75 and is five shots off the lead. In-form Han lost in a sudden-death play-off in the previous Asian PGA Tour event, the Maekyung Daks Open in Korea.

South African James Kingston beat Han on the fourth play-off hole, but only after the Myanmar golfer had lipped out for victory on the second extra hole and missed a four footer for the win on the next.

The Myanmar golfer got off to a bad start after hitting his second shot on the par five first into the water. He bogied the hole but got back on track with back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth and an eagle on the eighth. A back nine of three-under-par 33 saw him race into the lead.

Rowe, 24, is also looking for his first win on the Asian PGA Tour and was aided by chipping in for a birdie on the 14th. He also birdied 16 and 18 to once again put himself in a strong position on Tour.

The Hong Kong player has not failed to finish outside the top 12 in four starts this year.

Wilson, who finished third in the Maekyung Daks Open, showed that he is still playing well after playing the inward half in 32. Terblanche birdied the last two holes to give himself a chance for first place, worth $72,000.

India's Gaurav Ghei and Amandeep Johl, and American Christian Pena are tied for fifth, five shots behind Han.

Young Chinese amateur Liang Wen-choong is a further shot back.

The 20-year-old, holder of three China Amateur Open titles, carded a 68 to outshine his country's top professional Zhang Lian-wei. Zhang fired a 71 and is one under for the tournament.

Leading scores 205 - Kyi Hla Han (Myn) 68-70-67 209 - Des Terblanche (Rsa) 69-67-73, Dean Wilson 70-71-68, Scott

Rowe (Hkg) 67-72-70 210 - Amandeep Johl (Ind) 71-68-71, Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha)

67-68-75, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 69-70-71, Christian Pena 68-72-

70 211 - Yasushi Taki (Jpn) 71-66-74, Tatsuhiko Ichihara (Jpn)

71-67-73, Liang Wen-Choong [A] (Chn) 73-70-68, Craig Kamps

(Rsa) 70-71-70 212 - Felix Casas (Phi) 70-70-72 213 - Peter Lawrie (Irl) 71-70-72, Rodrigo Cuello (Phi) 70-71-72,

Simon Yates (Sco) 68-72-73 214 - Kim Wan-tae (Kor) 71-67-76, Gilberto Morales (Ven) 69-69-

76, Lee Boo-young (Kor) 73-70-71, Hendrik Buhrmann (Rsa)

71-70-73, Danny Zarate (Phi) 68-70-76, Boonchu Ruangkit

(Tha) 71-71-72, Hiroya Kamide (Jpn) 70-73-71, Greg Hanrahan

72-74-68, Taimur Hussain (Pak) 67-74-73