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Mickelson in front in Shanghai

10/11/2007

World number two Phil Mickelson carded a third round of 68 to lead the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai by two strokes.

Mickelson finished on 14-under-par and is being chased by the English pair of Ross Fisher who is on 12-under-par and Paul Casey who is a further shot back.

"I fought hard early in the round, I made a couple of birdies and bogeys and was back and forth for a while," said Mickelson.

"But towards the end of the round I steadied it a little bit and had some good birdies coming in. It was a good way to finish."

Casey hit the best round of the day and he amazingly chipped in three times in his round of six-under 66.

"I got a little bit lucky today with three hole-outs from off the green - sometimes it happens," said Casey.

"It really got my round going but I made my putts and made up for some of the missed putts I had yesterday."

The consistent Fisher carded his third round of four-under-par 68, but overnight leader Kevin Stadler was less consistent. Stadler hit three bogeys in his first four holes in his round of 73 and is now in fourth position.

Open champion Padraig Harrington and Fijian star Vijay Singh are both seven shots adrift of the leader on seven-under-par.