Dyson steams ahead in Shanghai

Simon Dyson equalled his own course record to maintain his commanding lead at the end of the third day of the BMW Asian Open.

The Yorkshireman shot a six-under-par 66 at the Tomson Golf Club to finish on 15 under – six shots ahead of Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiminez and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng.

Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley experienced a mixed round, dropping four shots in the first four holes, including a six at the par-four first.

But five birdies in the space of eight holes enabled the Irishman to make a 72 and finish the day on seven under, and a tie for fifth with Australian Adam Groom and Lian-Wei Zhang of China.

Padraig Harrington endured another difficult day, finishing his third round one-over-par, 13 shots behind Dyson.

The Irishman – who managed par on his opening two rounds – bogeyed the final two holes today to drift further out of contention.

After picking up a shot at the second, a terrific run of five consecutive birdies between holes five and nine set Dyson on his way to match his first round score, which he consolidated with nine pars on the way in.

Dyson was boosted by a disastrous seven at the final hole from playing partner Jiminez who had looked threatening after moving alone into second place with a run of four birdies on the back nine.

But Jiminez had to settle for a 70 and a share of second with Marksaeng who, boosted by an eagle at the first, carded a five-under-par 67.

A solid 70 enabled France’s Jean-François Lucquin to move up to eight under a further place back.

Greg Norman was in a strong second position but a bogey on the sixteenth had seen him start to fall away before he was disqualified for an illegal drop on the 17th hole.

Dyson is in his third tournament since returning to action after a cracking a bone in his arm at the Caltex Masters in Singapore in March but does not appear to be suffering any after effects.