Local favourite Brett Rumford gave the home fans plenty to cheer in Western Australia as he joined Denmark’s JB Hansen in a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the third round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The Perth native carded a seven under par 65 at Lake Karrinyup to reach seven under for the tournament, where he was joined by Hansen after The European Tour rookie carded a 66.
Currently eighth on The Race to Dubai a week before the inaugural Final Series gets underway in China, Rumford carded eight birdies and one bogey as he chases a third win of the season and looks to cement his place in the top ten players who will split a $3,750,000 bonus pool after the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
At 90th on The Race to Dubai Hansen needs a good week to increase his chances of featuring in the Final Series, and his blemish-free round put him firmly in contention for a maiden European Tour victory.
“I just played great all day,” he said. “I kept the ball in play and I holed the important putts I needed to hole.
“It's a great score, just what I needed to move up in the field. Hopefully I will be in a good position tomorrow.
“I’m going to have fun tomorrow and enjoy. I'm on top of the leaderboard, so see what it brings.”
Rumford’s compatriots Jason Scrivener and Brody Ninyette were seven under par on the course, as was Korea’s former Amateur champion Jin Jeong.
Overnight leader Peter Hedblom, needing a win to retain his European Tour card, had drifted into the pack after playing his first ten holes in two over.
