Australian Adam Scott will take a five stroke lead into the final round of the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Pine Valley Golf Resort & Country Club in Beijing, despite a double bogey finish to his third round on Sunday morning.
The world number ten, who has led the tri-sanctioned event between The European, Asian and Australasian Tours since opening his campaign with a course record 63, completed his third round in three under par 69 to lead Retief Goosen of South Africa, New Zealand's Michael Campbell and Swede Henrik Stenson.
Scott, chasing his fifth European Tour title, has a three round total of 18 under par 198. The final round teed off at 10.35am local time, with the leaders off at 12.35pm.
Stenson forced his way into the final group with a flawless 66 while Goosen and Campbell, who are both former champions of the event, finished their third rounds with matching 68s.
Although pleased to be in the lead, 24 year old Scott admitted he was disappointed with his late stumble. "I have a five shot lead, but it could have been better. I let a couple go on the last hole and that’s disappointing,” he said.
“It's going to be tough in this wind this afternoon. I think it's nice to have a lead especially in these conditions. A shot can get away from you pretty easily but that's going to be a good thing for me. Also in this wind, anything can happen and a five-shot lead is not a lot. I've got to keep playing well and make some birdies to stay ahead.”
A proven front-runner, Scott said he must produce his best form to hold off the chasing pack and win his first Johnnie Walker Classic title.
"I think it's just getting it on the green and giving yourself a chance for a birdie putt. You probably can't fire at so many pins where you can get into trouble. More like how I was playing on the Thursday (in the wind) where I was hitting fairways and greens," he said.
American Gary Rusnak and South Africa's Richard Sterne are joint fifth on 204 while Ryder Cup team mates at Oakland Hills, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Luke Donald of England were amongst those on 205, seven off the pace after rounds of 67 and 65 respectively.
