Shane Lowry could only manage a two-under par round of 68 as the leaders moved clear on moving day at the Hong Kong Open.
The Open Champion had hoped to make a dent in Australian Wade Ormsby’s lead but could only manage three birdies in his two-under par effort as Ormsby fired a second successive 66 to move to 13-under par.
Lowry found 14 greens in regulation and needed just 30 putts on his seasonal reappearance but at seven-under par, he’s just inside the top-10, six shots behind the Australian but only three adrift of his target at the start of the week.
“I said if I got to double figures under par, I’d be happy enough,” Lowry said on Friday.
“I think 10, 11, 12-under will have a chance at the weekend. You never know. Wade is nine under now. If he has a really good weekend, he might run away but hopefully I can shoot two decent scores and give myself a chance.”
Although the lead has already risen to 13, Lowry will know more than anyone that six shots could prove very little on a tricky layout as the pressure of Sunday takes hold on those out in front.
Lowry will be joined by America’s Tony Finau and Tomoharu Otsuki in Sunday’s final round.
Full scoring HERE
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