Zhang one shot behind in HK

GOLF

New Zealand's Michael Campbell and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain shared the lead after the third round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

Campbell, who is looking to end a seven-year winless drought, holed a testing 15-foot par putt at the last to complete a 1-under round of 69. He is on 10 under 200 for the tournament.

Jimenez posted a third-round 68 as he aims to win the event for a third time in nine years.

"I wouldn't say I played well today as it was a bit scrappy and really pretty average but then I managed to grind out a score and that's important when you are not playing all that well," said Campbell.

Campbell survived a scare during his round when he accidently knocked his ball off the tee at the par-4 10th hole while taking a practice swing.

But the 2005 US Open champion avoided a two-stroke penalty after a ruling that he had not addressed the ball and therefore was not in breach of the rules.

"I've never ever done that before in 38 years of playing golf and knocking the ball off the tee in taking a practice swing," said Campbell.

Campbell, ranked at No. 339th, has won 15 career titles but none since the 2005 HSBC World MatchPlay Championship in England.

Matteo Manassero posted an equal-best third-round score of 64 to move into a share of third place on 9 under with 47-year-old Zhang Lianwei (69) of China.

The 19-year-old last weekend become the first teenager to win three times on the European Tour when the Italian captured the Singapore Open in a playoff.

Zhang promised to return today with renewed vigor as he bids to complete his unique treble, having won the Macau and China Opens previously on the Asian Tour.

The five-time Asian Tour winner started off promisingly with three birdies in his opening four holes. But he gave those three shots back with successive bogeys starting from the sixth.

"I got a little tense after I three-putted on the sixth. I dropped another on the seventh and hit a poor tee shot on the eighth. After I saved par on the ninth, I told myself to calm down before starting my back nine," said Zhang.

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