Els well placed for Shanghai success

Ernie Els will take a five-shot lead into the final round of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai tomorrow.

Els carded a third-round 68 at Tomson Golf Club to extend his overnight lead by a stroke, the world number three finishing on 19 under par.

England’s Simon Wakefield is the European number one’s nearest challenger on -14, the qualifying school graduate’s 66 the joint best round of the day.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is two shots further back on 12 under after a 68 with France’s Jean-Francois Lucquin another stroke behind following a 69.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie finished on -8.

“I have to be satisfied but today was quite a difficult day here and there,” admitted Els, who carded seven birdies but three bogeys. Yesterday I was right on but today was a little off, but all in all I have to be pleased to be 19 under after three rounds.

“It’s nice to have a lead but you have to watch out. The boys are going to be coming hard and there were a couple of good scores today. I have to play sensibly and aggressive when I can.”

Chasing a third European Tour win in 2005 following back-to-back triumphs in Dubai and Qatar, Els birdied the first and bounced back from a bogey on the fourth with birdies on the seventh and eighth.

The South African had closed his second-round 62 with a brilliant eagle on the par-five ninth, but this time pushed his drive into the water running down the right-hand side of the hole, leading to a bogey six.

No doubt annoyed by that error, Els hit straight back with a birdie on the 10th but it was clear he was not in the imperious form of Friday, another bogey coming on the 12th.

Again Els responded in typical fashion with back-to-back birdies and another on the 18th sealed a satisfactory display.