Otaegui has second Volvo China Open title in sight

Adrian Otaegui put himself within reach of his second Volvo China Open title on Saturday when the UAE-based pro blitzed the field to shoot a nine-under 62 for a one-shot lead at the national championship.

Through three rounds at Enhance Anting Golf Club in Shanghai, Otaegui, who won the tournament two years ago in Shenzhen, was 16-under 197 at the $2.75 million tournament, a DP World Tour and China Tour co-sanctioned event.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, the overnight co-leader, was a shot back after a three-under 68. South African Shaun Norris, the other overnight co-leader shot even-par 71 to sit four shots off the pace. Spaniard Alejandro Del Ray (70), the first-round leader, was five shots back.

Jin Zihao (71) and Peng Bo (68) were the top Chinese in a group of six players eight shots back. Defending champion Wu Ashun (70) was a shot further back.

Starting the day five shots off the lead, Otaegui was on from the start with a birdie at the first, followed by a chip-in eagle two at the 348-yard fourth hole. After his lone bogey of the day at the fifth hole, he then reeled off five consecutive birdies from the seventh hole. He finished strongly with a chip-in birdie from off the green at the par-three 16th, and scrambled for another birdie at the 614-yard last.

"I'm very happy with the way I finished, the way I stayed patient," said Otaegui who was making no predictions for tomorrow's final round.

"You know how golf is, every day is different. My game's good. I've been playing good. I have been putting well and I am confident. All I want to do is keep going, keep doing the same and give myself a chance for tomorrow."

Wiesberger was alone atop the leaderboard for much of the day as his fifth birdie of the round on the par-five 10th got him to 16-under. He then fell a shot behind Otaegui, who was playing several groups ahead, when he three-putted the 420-yard 15th hole. He shot par for the final three holes.

"Obviously, the three putting, I wasn't quite happy with that. But, all in all, it was a little bit of combination of tricky pins, not quite good numbers for me out there in the back nine, and then trying to get a solid run in and keep myself in contention, but not dropping shots unnecessarily," said Wiesberger, an eight-time winner on the DP World Tour.

"It's going to be a fun day tomorrow. Adrian is a great player and obviously had a good day today. I'm playing well, so I'm looking forward to getting out there again tomorrow. Hopefully I start as good as I did today and leave it all out there."