Shane Lowry battled scorching temperatures and some fatigue as he caught fire with a splendid moving day 66 to lurk just five shots off the pace heading into the final day of the Porsche Singapore Classic.
Playing in his fourth successive event and last before he heads for the Masters in Augusta National, Lowry muscled his way up the leaderboard thanks to an eagle and five birdies and although he was disappointed to bogey the last he is in a decent spot in T13 with an outside chance of clinching his first win since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.
“Yeah, it was nice,” said Lowry who is battling jet lag having only played one practice round after arriving from the Players Championship.
“I played really good today. The longest putt I holed I think was about six or seven feet. So you know shooting 66 that’s pretty good.
“Obviously, I’d like to have holed more. I think it could have been better. But I’ve put myself back up towards the top of the leaderboard.
“I just hope the leaders don’t run away too much today and I can get out and maybe shoot a low front nine tomorrow and give myself a bit of a chance.”
The Clara man got his wish as leader David Micheluzzi reached thirteen-under and he leads by one from English duo Andy Sullivan and Sam Bairstow while Shubhankar Sharma and Paul Casey are lurking in the pack.
After a second round 73 saw him fall towards the cut line, Lowry teed off on the back nine but started quickly again, holing out from 95 yards on 14 for an eagle three with birdies on 13 and 15 either side.
He turned in 32 after a birdie on 18. He added two more on three and five but his day was slightly soured by a closing bogey.
“I holed a wedge shot on 14 (for eagle) and then I almost holed my shot on the next as well and give myself a few great chances,” Lowry said.
“And, you know, I just played really nice golf. I hit it where I was supposed to.
“Very disappointed to bogey the last to be honest, but you know, just that’s golf and you move on and we’ll get after it tomorrow.”
Lowry has been in great form recently, arriving after two top-5 finishes and a top-20 at the Players. He has been regularly in contention but now in his fourth successive week and with searing heat to battle, he knows he faces a stiff challenge.
“Try to stay hydrated and stand in the shade as much as you can,” he said of his thoughts on his final competitive round before the Masters.
“It’s pretty hot out there. So you’re picking your targets, hitting good shots and hopefully getting some good results.”
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