Ernie Els swiftly found himself with company at the top of the Hong Kong Open leaderboard in the shape of Scott Hend when the third round began in Fanling.
Four-time Major winner Els had marked his 45th birthday with a second round 65 to establish a two shot halfway lead, but Australian Hend wipe that out with birdies from 25 feet on the first and 15 feet on the second.
Affiliate Member Hend began the week 149th on The Race to Dubai but was giving himself every chance of moving into the top 110 who will earn a card for next season at the end of next week’s ISPS HANDA Perth International.
South African Els had to scramble par with an eight foot clutch putt at the first after his approach came up short of the green, and remained nine under par for the tournament.
Spain’s Javier Colomo made a ten footer at the last for a 64 to set the clubhouse target at eight under par, with seven players sharing fourth on seven under – among them Lucas Bjerregaard and Daan Huizing, who at 110th and 135th on The Race to Dubai were facing a scrap to retain their playing privileges.
Hend’s tee shot to the par five third looked to have left him blocked out from going for the green in two, but the 41 year old managed to hook an iron around the trees to the edge of the green and two-putt to complete a hat-trick of gains and snatch the outright lead.
