Fraser eyes win on return from injury
A score of 65 took Marcus Fraser into a third-round lead at the Hong Kong Open as he seeks a winning return from a long-term injury.
The Australian has been out since February with a hand problem but moved one stroke ahead of compatriot Scott Hend on 11-under-par after a strong finish on Saturday.
Four birdies in the last six holes completed a five-under-par round, an opening bogey having been offset by two birdies on the front nine.
“Towards the end it was pretty good,” Fraser said. “The start of the round wasn’t ideal, but I pulled my finger out and started playing golf down the back nine.
“No-one’s more surprised than I am, that’s for sure, after eight months of sitting on a couch! It hasn’t been the best eight months but when you go and play like that, it makes it all worth it.”
Hend birdied the first three holes but was inconsistent thereafter, with three birdies and three bogeys to leave him just off the pace.
“I lost my way a little bit in the middle – it was a bit messy,” he said. “But it was nice to hang in there and not play myself out of it.”
England’s Mark Foster shared third place with South African Jbe Kruger and Angelo Que of the Philippines, who made four birdies on the back nine to move into contention.
Ernie Els was in a five-strong group at 8-under after only carding a level-par 71 – despite an eagle at the par-five 13th. Raphael Jacquelin, Jyoti Randhawa, Javier Colomo and Cameron Smith are alongside the big South African.
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