McDowell, McGrane still in contention
Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell remain well in contention midway through their third rounds as the Volvo China Open leaderboard began to take on a more congested look at Shanghai Silport GC.
Starting the day on two under par after solid rounds of 71 and 69, a birdie at the par-five eighth saw McGrane play his first eight holes in one under before a bogey at the ninth meant the Irishman reached the turn in 35.
McDowell also remains on his overnight score of two under par after an eventful front nine saw the Northern Irishman play the front nine in level par.
Bogeys at the second and third had threatened to derail the 27-year-old’s bid as he fell back to evens for the tournament, and another dropped shot at the par-four seventh cancelled out a birdie at the fourth.
However, an eagle at the par-five eighth restored parity for the man from Portrush and, along with McGrane, he is still well in the hunt three strokes behind new co-leaders Adam Blyth and Andres Romero.
A birdie three at the fifth saw Blyth stay level for his round, while birdies at seven and eight for Romero meant the duo assumed top spot on five under by a shot from previous incumbent Raphael Jacquelin, who dropped three strokes in his opening six holes, and Scott Hend.
Stephen Dodd remains one under after a bogey at the ninth pegged the Welshman back to level par on his round, while a birdie at the 13th saw leading Englishman David Griffiths improve to evens for the tournament.
He was joined by Gary Murphy after the Irishman recovered from a double bogey at the first with four birdies to stand one under for the day after 14 holes
Compatriot Peter Lawrie lies one over with two holes of his third round to go, alongside Garry Houston after the Welshman shot a one-under-par 70.
Two birdies on the back nine helped Scot Stephen Gallacher fire a round of 70 to finish two over after 54 holes, while Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm recorded a one-under-par 70 to improve to four over.
Yasin Ali produced a 74 to fall to six over par, while Benn Barham shot a 75 to drop to seven over, alongside Tom Whitehouse, who had an equally disappointing day.
