PAUL DUNNE IS still in contention to claim his maiden European Tour win in China but he will have to shoot low over his final 24 holes to reel in the leaders.
The Greystones golfer only got through 12 holes of his third round at the Shenzhen International before play was suspended due to bad light.
Birdies on the ninth and 10th holes complemented his 10 pars nicely to leave him in a tie for fifth, five shots off the lead, which is held by Soomin Lee.
But Callum Shinkwin’s efforts stole the show today as he cut Lee’s lead to only two shots with a magnificent, 10-under 62.
Lee took a three-shot advantage into the weekend after the first two days were disrupted by the weather at the Genzon Golf Club, with 35 players starting their second rounds on Saturday.
The South Korean moved to 14-under for the week but could only complete 11 holes in his third round, having finished his second on Friday, before play was suspended.
Lee will have 25 holes to get through tomorrow when he aims to win a first European Tour title and Shinkwin is biting at his heels after a brilliant third round — which was the best of the week.
Shinkwin played his entire second round in the morning and the Englishman did not appear to be among the challengers when he carded a second successive 71.
But the 22-year-old surged into contention with eight birdies and an eagle to move into second place, with the option of putting his feet up when the likes of Lee are finishing their third rounds tomorrow.
Lee held a commanding five-shot advantage after three holes of his third round, but Shinkwin’s charge gave the leader plenty to think about.
Brandon Stone and Lee Slattery hold a share of third place, four shots off the lead with six holes still to be completed in their third rounds.
Alexander Levy, Joost Luiten and Dunne will start five shots adrift of Lee when they return to finish their third rounds tomorrow.
Elsewhere, Pádraig Harrington has found some form in the US.
The Dubliner is tied for 19th after two rounds of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. Harrington followed his opening-round 70 with a one-under-par 71 yesterday.
Harrington is seven shots behind leader Brendan Steele who is on 10-under-par, and has a three-shot cushion, heading into the final two rounds.
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