Maybank Malaysian Open: Day three report

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 7 February 2015

Bernd Wiesberger shoots a career-best round to go two shots clear

Bernd Wiesberger shot a career-best 63 to go two shots clear after the third day of the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Wiesberger got off to a flying start with five straight birdies. He hit every green in regulation in a round which contained ten birdies and a bogey.

“I’ve been working on the right things which are important for my game,” Wiesberger said. “I’ve improved on my putting a lot; I have changed to a different model and it has been working for me. I also have the belief that I can play good golf now.”

The Austrian is two clear of Alejandro Cañizares, whose round of 68 included an eagle courtesy of a holed pitching wedge from 110 yards out at the 16th hole.

An even more spectacular shot was from two-time former winner of the Malaysian Open Thongchai Jaidee, who made a hole in one at the 226-yard 11th. It was the twelfth ace of this European Tour season.

Overnight co-leader (opens in new tab) Lee Westwood needed birdies at the final two holes to be tied with Paul Waring in third, after a three-under 69. This leaves the English pair three shot behind after Waring shot a couple of eagles in his 65.

“It was nice to finish with a bit of momentum," Westwood said. “The way I played it could have been a lot worse and I could have been a lot further off the lead. I couldn’t feel my hip action today and really struggled especially early on. So I’m very pleased to have shot 69.”

Wiesberger will be aiming for his third tour win tomorrow. “I had a fast start today and anybody can do that tomorrow. If I keep playing like this then I have a good chance to take this home, but I’m not discounting anybody. There was a 62 out there and there’s probably going to be another 62 out there as well.”

This 62 was by Anirban Lahiri who carded 10 birdies in establishing a new course record since the 2008 revamp of the West Course at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Lahiri lies fifth going into the final day.

Maybank Malaysian Open leaderboard (opens in new tab)

Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: The Novel Life of PG Wodehouse; The Don: Beyond Boundaries; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder.