DONGGUAN (China), Nov 16: Chinese star Liang Wen-chong fired the 100th hole-in-one in Davidoff Tour history on his way to a course-record seven-under par 65 which shot him up the leaderboard at the TCL Classic here Saturday.

Liang, 24, looked to be heading home after a disastrous six-over opening round 78 left him way down the field in China’s first million-dollar event.

However, an inspired Liang has since played impeccable, bogey-free golf, adding a 65 on Saturday to a 66 on Friday to stand at seven-under-par for the tournament and just six shots of the lead held by Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

Liang’s ace came on the tricky par-three, 230-yard sixth hole.

Only a handful of spectators witnessed his three-iron shot, which cut through the wind before trickling gently up the green and into the cup for a little bit of Tour history.

“After hitting my three-iron tee shot, I saw the ball was on line but I didn’t see it roll into the hole. However some spectators who had been following my group saw it roll into the cup and started cheering,” said a delighted Liang.

Liang attributed his shaky opening round to his decision to experiment with a new, inexperienced caddie for the first time — his 20-year-old younger brother Liang Guan-yao.

“I was too anxious in the first round because my younger brother was carrying my bag for the first time. I did not realise that there were so many things he should have known but didn’t.

“But for the last two rounds, I decided to think more for myself and rely less on my brother.”

But asked if he would let his brother caddie for him again, Liang said with a smile: “Yes!”

Liang currently lies 37th on the Davidoff order of merit, an improvement of 10 places on his finishing position in his first full season last year.

“I didn’t think I would play that well today, but I was confident I could shoot under par,” he said.

Liang attributed much of his recent success to working with new coach Kel Llewellyn, who had improved his swing and given him added confidence.

A fourth place in the Indonesian Open is his best finish of the year but the confident young Chinese star, bidding for his first win on the Asian PGA tour after four victories on the China Tour, will not be overawed in Sunday’s final round.

“I won’t think about who I am paired with on the final day or about winning the tournament, but just take it hole-by-hole.”

Leading third round scores:

203 - Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 68-67-68

205 - Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 70-68-67

208 - Ted Oh (Kor) 67-71-70

209 - Liang Wen-chong (Chn) 78-66-65

210 - Michael Campbell (Nzl) 73-70-67, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 69-70-71, Charlie Wi (Kor) 68-72-70,

211 - Paul McGinley (Ire) 71-69-71, Zhang Lian-wei (Chn) 70-70-71, Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 69-71-71, Andrew Coltart (Sco) 71-68-72, Bob May (USA) 71-67-73

212 - Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 70-73-69, Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) 71-71-70, Zaw Moe (Mya) 68-73-71, Ted Purdy (USA) 70-71-71, Carlos Franco (Par) 73-68-71, Danny Zarate (Phi) 69-71-72, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68-70-74, Hendrik Burhmann (Rsa) 70-68-74

213 - Chung Joon (Kor) 68-73-72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 70-70-73, Kyi Hla Han (Mya) 70-70-73, Rick Gibson (Can) 69-70-74

214 - Chris Williams (Eng) 69-75-70, Gerry Norquist (USA) 73-71-70, Fran Quinn (USA) 71-71-72, Jon Levitt (USA) 72-69-73

GOTEMBA (Japan): Japan’s Tsuneyuki Nakajima shot a five-under-par 67 to snatch the third round lead at the $1.25m Taiheiyo Masters golf tournament Saturday.

Starting the day one stroke off the pace, the veteran 48-year-old sank one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys for a three-round total of 14-under-par 202 to take a two-stroke lead over fellow Japanese Hidemichi Tanaka.

Aaron Baddeley of Australia hit a 68 for a second straight day to share third place with Japan’s Taichi Teshima on 205.

“It was a nice round for me, although I had two bogeys,” said Nakajima.

“I think I’m playing well despite having a bad cold. I don’t have a fever, so I can keep playing. I just feel pains to my back, I think it’s because of the cold.

“It’s difficult to win this tournament, because the rivals are Baddeley, who is in good form right now, and Tanaka, who is seeded on the US tour, while there are so many good players here.

“But I’m confident. If I can play my golf, I have a chance. I’ll just do my best out there tomorrow,” added Nakajima.

Overnight leader Brendan Jones of Australia, who won his first title on the Japan tour at the Philip Morris championship earlier this month, hit a 73 to fall back to with American Dean Wilson and Justin Rose of England on 207.

Rose captured his first career title at the Dunlop championship and then added three more this season.

They were followed by American Charles Howell III and Japan’s Kiyoshi Miyazato on 208, while Japanese defending champion Toshimitsu Izawa was on 209.

Leading third round scores: (Japanese unless stated):

202 - Tsuneyuki Nakajima 69-66-67

204 - Hidemichi Tanaka 67-70-67

205 - Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 69-68-68, Taichi Teshima 69-67-69

207 - Dean Wilson (USA) 74-67-66, Brendan Jones (Aus) 65-69-73, Justin Rose (Eng) 70-68-69

208 - Charles Howell III (USA) 70-70-68, Kiyoshi Miyazato 71-65-72

Selected

209 - Kim Jong-Duk (Kor) 70-66-73

211 - David Smail (Nzl) 73-68-70, Scott Laycock (Aus) 72-68-71

213 - Todd Hamilton (USA) 72-71-70

214 - Anthony Gilligan (Aus) 77-66-71, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 71-73-70

217 - Dinesh Chand (Fij) 72-72-73, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 77-70-70

218 - Lin Keng-chi (Tpe) 74-71-73, Richard Backwell (Aus) 72-74-72

221 - Paul Casey (Eng) 72-75-74.—AFP