Wilson picks up in Phuket

England’s Oliver Wilson opened up a two-shot lead over South African Anton Haig at the halfway point of his third round in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket.

Wilson, who started the day a shot clear at 10 under picked up three birdies on his front nine to take command.

Haig cancelled out an early birdie with a bogey at the second, but recovered to reach the turn in 34, a shot ahead of compatriot Richard Sterne.

Sterne, who started the day tied for 11th, was five under after 13 holes following a bogey-free round, while Retief Goosen, who carded four-under par 68’s in his opening two rounds, struggled for consistency at the Blue Canyon Country Club.

The world number eight, who started the day eight under, rattled off three early birdies but followed up with three consecutive bogeys and only a birdie on the 561-yard ninth kept his round under par at the turn.

England’s Simon Hurd leapt up the leaderboard after carding a six-under-par 66 to join Ernie Els, compatriot Graeme Strom and Scottish duo Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie at six under.

The St Albans golfer, who now lives near Bangkok, was level par after two rounds – narrowly avoiding the cut – and so was out first today with partner Edward Michaels.

Hurd was two under par for the front nine, despite a bogey at the par-four eighth, before four birdies on the way home boosted the 31-year-old’s position.

“It was a nice round; I played well and putted good. It came as quite a surprise, I played well in the first few weeks but in the last two weeks I’ve not scored very well,” said Hurd.

“I got on a roll early doors, made a good two at the second, which is a real tough flag, and that kick-started me from there. I played solid after that and hit 15 greens.

“I asked my caddie yesterday on the 17th to tell me if I need to be told how close to the cut I was. He told me on my last putt that I had two putts from 15 feet, so that was nice. I really grinded to make the cut and when you shoot a score like today, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Gallacher, who plummeted down the leaderboard after a four-over par second round, recovered to card a 68, while Storm was one under after 14 and Montgomerie, a hole behind the Hartlepool golfer, was also a shot better off after three birdies and two bogeys.

Canadian Mike Weir, who also narrowly beat the cut yesterday, carded a 68 to move to four under while Australian Adam Scott, a former Johnnie Walker Classic winner, moved to three under after a 70.

Ireland's Damien McGrane finished tied in twenty-first place at four under. Graeme McDowell was a shot back on -3.