FAR HILLS, N.J. – Chang-Woo Lee, 19, of Korea, owns a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Nanshan International Golf Club’s Garden Course in Longkou City, China.
Lee, who shared the 36-hole lead with Shohei Hasegawa of Japan, carded a 2-under-par 69 in more benign conditions on Saturday for a three-day total of 2-under 211. Hasegawa had an even-par 71 and sits two strokes back.
Right on the heels of the No. 31 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking is first-round leader Zecheng Dou, 16, of China, who also shot a 69 for a 36-hole total of 213. Earlier this summer, Dou advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Junior Amateur.
“This is my third time playing at this tournament, but it feels a lot different this time [to be in contention],” said Lee, who shared second at last week’s Korea Open with 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.
The biggest Saturday move came from defending champion Tianlang Guan, 15, of China. Guan, who made the cut at the Masters in April, shot a 68 that included five birdies on his outward nine. He is five strokes behind Lee in a tie for fifth at 3-over 216 alongside U.S. Amateur runner-up Oliver Goss of Australia.
Sanctioned by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, The R&A and Augusta National Golf Club, the Asia-Pacific Amateur offers an invitation to the 2014 Masters to the champion. The champion also is exempt into the 2014 U.S. Amateur and receives an exemption from local qualifying for the 2014 U.S. Open. The champion and runner-up earn spots into International Final Qualifying for the 2014 British Open.
Sunday’s final round will be broadcast by ESPN2 at 4 a.m. EDT.
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