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Damien McGrane leads China Open heading into final round

19/04/2008

Damien McGrane leads the Volvo China Open on 11-under-par, three shots ahead of Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Oliver Wilson.

McGrane carded a third round of 68 to move ahead of long-time leader Lorenzo-Vera who could only card a round of even-par.

England's Wilson also remains in contention, equal with Lorenzo-Vera on eight-under, following a solid round of two-under.

McGrane suffered an inconsistent round on day three but still managed to come out on top, making seven birdies as well as three bogeys.

He made three birdies between the third and sixth but instantly dropped shots at the next two holes. Two successive birdies after the turn pushed him up the leaderboard once more and birdies at 17 and 18 put him beyond Lorenzo-Vera and Wilson.

McGrane is hoping to seal his first win on the European Tour in China and thinks he can improve the third place finish he finished with the last time he was leading into the final round.

He said: "I have led tournaments before and it is all part and parcel of the golf business. I finished third last time I was leading going into the final round. I need to use that experience and push on and do better this time around.

"It is all about coping with situations and I need to go out tomorrow and deal with the situation, play my own game and play well."

Lorenzo-Vera dropped a shot at the second hole but made pars for the rest of the round before birdying the 12th and 13th, but he immediately threw his good work away with another bogey at the 14th.

Wilson notched five birdies and two bogeys during his round. Like McGrane he also birdied the final hole to boost his chances heading into the final round.